The Queens Own Royal West Kent R

The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Private W H Brett

Photograph by Chris(tine) Eaton

Private William Henry BRETT, G/10535, 11th Battalion, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, killed in action, Flanders France, 7th October 1916, age 30.

Born Gloucester, Gloucestershire, son of Edward Owen and Elizabeth Brett, of 39 Stanley Street, Leicester / 118 Wellington Street, Leicester.

1911 Census - 15 Charnwood Street, Leicester - Edward Owen Brett, head, age 55, married, proof reader, newspaper, born Deesa, East India Bombay, British by parentage; Elizabeth Brett, wife, age 54, married 33 years, 16 children, 10 still alive, born Gloucester, Gloucestershire; Arthur Halford Brett, son, age 32, single, compositor, printing, born Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire; William Henry Brett, son, age 22, single, warehouseman, boot trade, born Gloucester, Gloucestershire; Frank Brett, son, age 19, single, mattress maker, upholstery, born Gloucester, Gloucestershire; George Patrick Brett, son, age 18, single, plumbers apprentice, plumber & glazier, born Gloucester, Gloucestershire; Sidney Harold Brett, son, age 18, single, grocers assistant, born Gloucester, Gloucestershire.

Home 9th November 1914 to 16th April 1915.

9th November 1914, enlisted Leicester, age 26 years 14 days, height 5ft 6⅝, weight 135lbs. & posted Depot, Leicestershire Regiment, 15890. Overlapping toe left foot, contracted little finger, left hand. Formerly confectioner. 19th November 1914, posted 10th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment; 19th December 1914, posted 3rd Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment.

Suffering from otitis media, very deaf, unable to carry out the duties of a soldier. Discharged 16th April 1915, as not likely to become an efficient soldier.

12th June 1915, Camberwell, enlisted in Army Service Corps, S4/122316, age 26 years 240 days, height 5ft 6¾ inches, weight 142lbs; formerly baker; slightly deaf. Previously served in 3rd Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment, time expired 16th April 1915; 15th June 1915, tested in the ASC bakery & proved to have no knowledge as a baker.

19th June 1915, discharged, as not likely to become an efficient soldier.

Enlisted Deptford, SE, age 27 years & 5 days, height 5ft 6¾ inches, weight 140lbs, scar back of left hand; Slight defects but not sufficient to cause rejection - overlapping toe of left foot; slight deafness left ear; contracted little finger of left hand. Resided 92 Marion Road, Brockley, SE. Formerly confectioner.

30th October 1915, enlisted & posted 11th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 30th August 1916, In the Field, awarded 10 days Field Punishment No.2. for insubordination;

Buried at Warlencourt British Cemetery, III. D. 17., Pas de Calais, France.

This page was last updated on 01-May-2017.