Name
Henry/Harry Ricketts (MM)
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
28/04/1918
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Gunner/Private
32543
Machine Gun Corps (Motors)
7th Battery
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Military Medal
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
WHITE HOUSE CEMETERY, ST. JEAN-LES-YPRES
Plot III, Row S, Grave 27.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Langleybury Village Memorial, St Paul's Church memorial, Langleybury, Not on the Croxley Green memorials
Pre War
Harry was the son of George and Ellen (nee Brill) Rickett. His parents married on 12 May 1883 at St Paul’s, Chipperfield, Herts. George died on 6 January 1933 in Watford aged 69, and was buried at St Paul’s, Langleybury; Ellen died in 1945 in Watford aged 85, and was buried on 19 March, also at St Paul’s.
Harry’s birth was registered in the fourth quarter of 1891 in Watford district, and he was baptised on 28 May 1908 at St Paul’s, Langleybury. On the 1901 Census, aged 9, he lived at Grove Lodge, Croxley Green, with his parents and four siblings. His father was an agricultural labourer.
On the 1911 Census, he worked as a gardener, aged 20, and still lived at Grove Lodge, Croxley Green with his parents and one sibling. His father worked as a cowman.
Wartime Service
Gunner Harry Ricketts enlisted in Watford, and was formerly Private 15559 Bedfordshire Regiment.
He was entitled to the 1914-15 Star medal, his qualifying date (when he began overseas service) being 9 April 1915.
He was killed in action defending Ypres during the spring 1918 German offensive. He is buried in the Whitehouse cemetery on the northern edge of Ypres.
Additional Information
There is a brief article about and a Death announcement for Harry in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 25 May 1918.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
