Name
Henry William Garratt
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
08/05/1917
29
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Gunner
79015
Royal Garrison Artillery
162nd Siege Battery
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
NINE ELMS BRITISH CEMETERY
I. B. 39.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Christchurch Memorial, Little Heath, Potters Bar, Little Heath & Bentley Heath Memorial, Potters Bar, All Souls Chapel Book of Remembrance, Potters Bar
Pre War
Henry William was born in Little Heath in 1887 to Henry Garratt and Henrietta (nee Turner). On the 1891 Census parents, Henry and Henrietta E (born 1889) were living at Little Heath, Potters Bar. On the 1911 census Henry was a nurseryman boarding with the Pearce family in Upton Road. Coopers Road, Little Heath.
Henry married Agnes Edith Clapton on 16 Apr 1911 and they had two daughters Gladys Louisa Agnes (born 1911) and Beatrice May (23 May 1915). They were living in Frampton Road when Beatrice was baptised at Christ Church on 1 Aug 1915.
Wartime Service
Henry attested on 2 May 1916 as Gunner 79015 Royal Garrison Artillery at Whitehall, London while living at 20 Frampton Road, Little Heath. He was posted to No1 depot on 2 May 1916 and to 40th Training Company at Dover on 17 May 1916. Henry was posted to 162nd Siege Battery on 6 Jun 1916 and went to France with the Battery, landing in Le Havre, France 5 Sep 1916. Henry was wounded and died on 8 May 1917, although he had been admitted to hospital that same day.
The battery war diary states: “5 a.m., Bombardment of S.O.S. lines. Battery dug out heavily shelled, 3 dugouts blown in, 7 OR killed by shellfire, 7 O.R. wounded, (3 of whom died).”
Most probably this was during the German offensive to recapture the British Salient at Fresnoy. (2nd Battle of Bullecourt 8 May 1917, part of the Arras Offensive).
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £3 10s and arrears of £4 13s 10 was paid to his widow Agnes
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Martin Cope
