Person

Bert Barrett was born in Branksome, Dorset in 1896. His father was George Barrett (1867), a house painter from Weymouth, Dorset. His mother was Eliza Marler (1869), a locksmith’s daughter from Branksome, Dorset. His parents married in 1889 and had 12 children made up of eight girls and four boys. In 1901 the family lived in 1 Glenside Cottages, Branksome. By the time of the 1911 census they were living in 71 Muscliff Road, Winton, Bournemouth, Dorset. Bert was working as a house painter at that time.

Bert was called up on 11 September 1916. His civilian occupation prior to joining was as an auto driver. He was 20 years old on joining. He was just over five feet two inches tall with a 32 inch chest. He is described as having blue eyes and a pale complexion. He became a private in 1st/8th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry (DLI). He initially had the service number 8/5927 but was renumbered as private 302864. He embarked at Folkestone, Kent on 10 January 1917 for Boulogne, Pas-de-Calais.

April saw Bert and his battalion operating in the Arras area. He was killed in action on 25 April 1917 along with 12 other men from his battalion. His body was not identified for burial. His service record includes correspondence from the Imperial War Graves Commission who were seeking any details of where he fell. The reply states there is no definite information of his place of death but… “Perusal of the War Diaries of the Battalion in question show it to have been operating in the vicinity of Wancourt Tower and Cojeul Valley on the date of this casualty”.

He is honoured on the Arras Memorial, Arras, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France (bay 8). He is also honoured in the Book of Remembrance 1914-18, Durham Light Infantry, Durham Cathedral.

Bert Barrett was awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal for his service in World War One.

Birth date: 1896

Death date: 25-Apr-1917

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: 1 Glenside Cottages, Branksome, Dorset (1901census)
71 Muscliff Road, Winton, Bournemouth, Dorset (1911 census)

Family: Parents: George Barrett (1867), Eliza Barrett nee Marler (1869)
Siblings: Annie Barrett (1890), Ada Barrett (1891), Fred Barrett (1893), Lily Barrett (1894), Willie Barrett (1898), Nellie Barrett (1900), May Barrett (1901), Elsie Barrett (1902), Hilda Barrett (1906), Reggie Barrett (1908), Edith Barrett (1910)

Military service:

302864
Private
1/8 Durham Light Infantry
formerly 8/5927 Durham Light Infantry

Medal(s): British War Medal
Victory Medal

Memorial(s): Arras Memorial, Arras, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France (Bay 8)
Book of Remembrance 1914-18, DLI, Durham Cathedral

Gender: Male

Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham