7485 Serjeant Lewis Edward Brotherhood
237th Company, Machine Gun Corps
Serjeant Lewis Edward Brotherhood's name on the Tynecot Memorial Panel 154.
Searjeant Lewis Edward Brotherhood was killed in action on the 2 October 1917. The Coalville Times of 7th May 1915 listed lewis as serving with the 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers and he was probably transferred when the Machine Gun Corps were formed in October 1915.
In 1914 infantry battalions were equipped with machine gun sections of two Maxim guns served by a subaltern and 12
other ranks. Experience of fighting soon demonstrated the need for special tactics as each section could provide
the firepower of 40 riflemen. A machine gun section school was established at Wisques on 22nd november 1914
and a further training centre was also established at Grantham. However, on 2nd September 1915 a proposal was
made to the War Office to create a Machine Gun Corps which was established by Royal Warrant on October 14th
1915. The pace of reorganisation was dependent upon the supply of Lewis Guns but was completed by the time the
Battle of the Somme commenced in 1916. In general the machine Gun Corps company's took their number from the
brigade to which they were attached. Shortly after its formation the corps Maxim Gun were replaced by the Vickers
Machine Gun which could fire 500 rounds per minute. In all some 170,500 men served in the "Suicide Club",
so called as they were often the centre of attention for enemy fire, of which 62,049 became casualties.