Name
Sidney Daniel Barrett
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/12/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Corporal
524497
Royal Engineers
497th Field Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TOURNAI COMMUNAL CEMETERY ALLIED EXTENSION
I. E. 11.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Report
UK & Other Memorials
Harpenden Town Memorial, Not on the Kinsbourne memorials
Pre War
Sidney Daniel Barrett was born 1884 in Kinsbourne Green, Harpenden to Daniel Barrett and Jane Emma (nee Hunt). He was the youngest of 4 sons and 2 daughters.
On the 1901 census He was a Farm labourer and living with his widowed mother and his brother Oliver. By 1911 he was a horse keeper on a farm.
Sidney married Elizabeth Minnie on 12 Dec 1911. They had two daughters Sylvia Frances born 14 Jan 1912 and Phyllis Violet born 10 Aug 1914.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in 3/2nd East Anglian Field Corps Royal Engineers, a Territorial Formation, on 9 Aug 1915 for a term of 4 years as Driver T/2862. He gave his address 15 Wenlock Street Luton.
Sidney transferred at some time later to the regular Army as Driver 524497 and he went to France (RE Base Depot on 2 Apr 1917 before being posted to 197 (Kent) Field Company RE on 23 May 1917. Sidney was made Acting Corporal (paid) on 19 Nov 1918. Sidney died on 1 Dec 1918 at Ellemelle, the result of an unfortunate accident, while ensuring his bootlaces were tight, ready for morning parade, the slab he was standing gave way tipping him into a deep well. The well had 9 feet of foul water and the water level was 20 feet below ground level. His body was recovered and artificial respiration was applied (unsuccessfully).
He was buried in Ellemelle Churchyard. His remains were exhumed later and re-buried in Tournai cemetery.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £19 and arrears of £22 19s 1d paid to his widow. A pension of 18s 9d was later paid.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
