The Queens Own Royal West Kent R

The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Private V A Brett

Photograph by "samayuk"

Private Victor Alfred BRETT, G/19936, "D" Company, 10th Battalion, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, killed in action, Flanders France, 27th April 1918, age 20.

Born Darenth, Kent, son of Frederick Richard and Bridget Brett, of 16 E.C. Cottages, Bean, Stone, Dartford, Kent.

1911 Census - Next Post Office, Green Street Green, near Dartford - Frederick Brett, head, age 60, married, smokeless powder employee, E C Gun Powder Works, born Combs, Suffolk; Bridget Brett, wife, age 52, married 33 years, 12 children, 11 still alive, born Limerick, Ireland; Frank Brett, son, age 17, single, mokeless powder employee, E C Gun Powder Works, born Darenth, Kent; Cordelia Brett, daughter, age 16, single, born Darenth, Kent; Victor Brett, son, age 13, school, born Darenth, Kent; May Brett, daughter, age 11, school, born Darenth, Kent; Ivy Brett, daughter, age 9, school, born Darenth, Kent.

Enlisted Dartford, Kent, age 19 years 210 days, height 5ft 11 inches. Resided Dartford, Kent. Formerly motor engineer, storekeeper.

Home 30th December 1915 to 14th June 1916; BEF 15th June 1916 to 27th April 1918.

30th December 1915, enlisted; 4th January 1916, joined at Waterford; 20th January 1916, posted 7th Reserve Cavalry Regiment; 14th June 1916, embarked Southampton; 15th June 1916, disembarked Havre, posted BEF, No.1. Service Squadron, 21st Lancers of the Line, 23056; 24th April 1917, to Hospital; 17th September 1917, Rouen, transferred to Royal West Kent Regiment, at Cavalry rates of pay; 26th September 1917, 40 Infantry Base Depot, Etaples, posted 10th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 14th November 1917, proceeded to Italy; 2nd March 1918, returned to France with Battalion.

Hagle Dump Explosion - On the 27th April 1918, The Battalion was working on the V3 line. A serious explosion occurred behind the Detail Camp at about 12.30pm caused by an enemy shell striking an ammunition and gun cotton dump. The camp was wrecked and numerous huts set on fire. Rescue parties at once set to work to assist in recovering the numerous casualties from the debris and extinguish fires. Casualties suffered by the Battalion included Lieutenant D F ANDERSON, & 17 other ranks. Wounded 28 other ranks. Missing 1 other ranks.

9th October 1919, Statement of Relatives - Mother, Bridget Brett, of 16 E.C. Cottages, Bean, Stone, Dartford, Kent; Brothers - Archie? Brett, age 36?, 3 High Street, Bean; Walter? Brett, age 34, Section Houses, Sheperden?, Kent?; Stuart? Brett. age 30, RAF Gosport, Hampshire; Frank Brett, age 28, 16 E C Estates? Bean; Sisters - Alice Townsend?, 17 Napier? Road, Gillingham; Ellen Vile, 147 Ebbett? Road, Eltham; Florence Brett / Cordelia Stoneham, Newington Infirmary, Walworth?; May Brett / Ivy Brett, 16 E.C. Cottages, Bean.

Buried at Hagle Dump Cemetery, I.D.14., Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

This page was last updated on 02-Jul-2018.