Print

South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

WW1_Logo.jpeg

The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One


Sergeant 9167 Charles BARRETT - 1st Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment

1s
Killed in Action on Sunday April 25th 1915 aged 30

Acting Sergeant Charles Barrett grave for c barrett

Military History
     
Theatre of War Medals Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France and Flanders 1914 Star & Clasp, British War & Victory Medals New Irish Farm Cemetery
     
Arrived in Theatre Medal Citation (if app) SWFHS Area Memorials
22 Aug 1914 at Bologne ~ Shipston on Stour  |  Shipston Adult School
     
Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed Date and Place Mobilised Other War Memorials
Second Battle of Ypres 4 Aug 1914 at Warwick  
     
Place of Death Previous Regiments or Units  
Vielje, Belgium 2nd Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment  
     

Previous Military Service

  • We know from his service number, 9167, that Charles originally enlisted at some time between 1st March 1902 when # 8480 was issued and 30th March 1903 when # 9376 was issued. Source
  • We know from Census and baptism records that he left the Army sometime between 1910 and 1911 and would have been placed in the Reserves having served a standard 8 year term
  • Charles most like spent his whole service in England as the 2nd Battalion locations between 1902 and 1911 were:
    1901     Devonport
    1904     Portland
    1906     Borden
    1909     Lichfield

Circumstances of Death

Charles is listed as being killed in action on 25 April 1915. The 1st Battalion war diary entry for that day is transcribed below as well as an Obituary published in the Stratford Herald on 4 Jun 1915

War Diary

25th April 1915 - Vielje: Left Ypres at 12mn for Vielje where orders were received for the attack. The brigade attacked at 4.30am. We attacked the wood on the left of the line with 7th A&S Highlanders in support. The Seaforth Highlanders, R Irish Fus and R Dublin Fus attacked on our right on St. Julien. Owing to the German Trenches being insufficiently shelled and supports unable to come up the line retired at about 7am to trenches near the farm and consolidated our position. Our casualties were very heavy 17 officers and 500 other ranks killed, wounded and missing.

Click to expand

Obituary

Stratford -Upon-Avon Herald - Friday 4th June 1915
Shipston-on-Stour

ANOTHER SHIPSTON MAN KILLED - Official notification has now been received of the death of Sergeant Charles Barrett of the 1st Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment, who was shot through the head in action at St. Julien on Sunday, April 25th. The deceased leaves a widow and two children [see below].

Sergeant Barratt was the eldest son of Mr and Mrs Henry Barrett, Husbandman's End, and had served 8 years with the colours before going on the reserve. He landed in France on August 23rd and was present in the Retreat from Mons and a number of succeeding actions, and was promoted to Sergeant in October 30th.

The deceased was well-known and very popular in the Shipston district, and the news of his death will be read with regret by a large circle of friends. Mr and Mrs. Barrett's youngest son served with the 2nd Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment and is now a Prisoner of War in Germany, frequently writes home and encloses urgent demands for food. Their other son is an engine-room articifer in the Royal Navy

Charles has a Street Sign in Shipston named after him (click to enlarge)
Barrett Place
 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/Place Baptism Date/Place
17 Aug 1884 at Weston on Avon  
   
Parents Names Abode
Henry and Eliza Husbandmans End, Shipston
   
Wife and Marriage Details Children
Annie Barrett nee Sumners Doris May born 22 Apr 1912
21 Jun 1908 at Shipston on Stour Albert Edward born 20 Jul 1914
   
Schools Colleges
Shipston Adult School ~
   
Address History Employment History
1884 - Fifield, Glos 1891 - Scholar
1891 - Blackford Hill, Wootton Wawen 1901 - Grocers Porter
1901 - Station Road, Shipston on Stour 1908 - Corporal, 2nd Bn, Royal Warwickshire Regt
1908 - Ash Tall, Surrey 1911 - Farm Labourer
1908 - New Street, Shipston on Stour  
1911 - New Street, Shipston on Stour  
1915 - Stratford Road, Shipston on Stour  

 

George and Annie had two children who died when very young, Lilian Annie who was baptised on 25 Oct 1908 and died the same year and Henry George who was baptised on 31 Oct 1909 and died in 1910. George was a serving soldier at this time.

Back to Index