Person

Samuel Fox Armitage Jarrett was the second child and only son of Stephen Jarrett and his wife Anne Hopper. He was born in Bishop Auckland, in 1888, two years before his sister Isabella. His father Stephen was originally a farm labourer in Hunwick. After his first wife Anne died he married widow Alice Peacock Proud in Auckland St Andrews in 1907. He became a wholesale fruit merchant and Samuel joined him in the business. Samuel lived with his father and step-mother in Dene Hall, Bishop Auckland. At some time Samuel served for four years as a 2nd Lieutenant in 6th Battalion Durham Light Infantry.

In March 1913 Samuel arrived in Canada making for a new life as a farmer in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. In September 1914 he became one of the 32,000 men who made their way to Valcartier, Quebec to enlist in the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF). He became Private 21837 of the 11th Battalion. His occupation at this time was as a postal clerk in Regina, Saskatchewan and he gave as his next of kin Miss Townsend, Ryton House, West Auckland.

Samuel sailed for England only days after enlisting and, by Christmas 1914, was a sergeant. He was transferred to the 4th Battalion and was with them in France in April 1915. He was elected to attend Cadet School with a view to obtaining a commission in the CEF. However, instead he received a commission into the British Army as a 2nd Lieutenant in 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry and was discharged from the CEF at Shorncliffe, Kent on 23 October 1915.

Fighting at the Somme with his Battalion in October 1916, Samuel Fox Armitage Jarrett was killed in action and is buried at Grove Town Cemetery, Meaulte, Somme, France.

Civil Parish: Bishop Auckland

Birth date: 28-Jan-1888

Death date: 12-Oct-1916

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: Dene Hall, Bishop Auckland (1911 census)
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada (Saskatchewan virtual war memorial)

Religion: Church of England

Employment: Fruit merchant (1911 census)
Postal clerk (1914 enlistment papers)

Family: Parents: Stephen Jarrett, Anne Jarrett nee Hopper, Alice Proud (step mother)
Siblings: Isabella Jarrett

Military service:

2nd Lieutenant
6th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry (pre-war militia)
21837
Private
11th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force
Sergeant
4th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force
2nd Lieutenant
2nd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry

Memorial(s): Bishop Auckland Market Place, memorial
King James School, Bishop Auckland, plaque (the initials do not correspond?)
Saint Peter’s Church, Bishop Auckland, stained-glass window and plaque
Saint Anne’s Church, Bishop Auckland, book of remembrance

Gender: Male

Contributed by Jean Longstaff, Durham