Name
Harry Rickett(s) (MM)
1891
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
None
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Langleybury Village Memorial, Hunton Bridge, St Paul's Church memorial, Langleybury, Not on the Croxley Green memorials
Pre War
Harry Rickett was born in 1891, the son of George and Ellen (nee Brill) Rickett, and baptised on 28 May 1908 at St Paul’s, Langleybury, Herts.
His parents had married on 12 May 1883 at St Paul’s, Chipperfield, Herts and he was one of seven children.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at Grove Lodge, Croxley Green, Watford, Herts, where his father was working as an agricultural labourer. They remained at the same address in 1911 at which time 20 year old Harry was working as a gardener, as was his older brother Edward, and his father worked as a cowman. Harry was said to be living in Croxley Green at the time of his enlistment.
Wartime Service
Harry enlisted in Watford, and initially joined the Bedfordshire Regiment as Private 15559, later transferring to the Machine Gun Corps (Motor Branch).
He served overseas from 9 April 1915 and was killed in action defending Ypres during the spring 1918 German offensive. He is buried in the White House Cemetery, St Jean-les-Ypres, Belgium
(On the Langleybury Memorial Harry is named with MM (Military Medal) after his name, however no confirmation of this award has yet been found)
Additional Information
His mother received a war gratuity of £17 and pay owing of £14 14s 0d. She also received a pension of 6 shillings a week.
There is a brief article about, and a Death announcement for, Harry in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 25 May 1918.
His father George died on 6 January 1933 aged 69, and was buried at St Paul’s, Langleybury. His mother Ellen died in 1945 aged 85, and was buried on 19 March, also at St Paul’s.
The name Harry Rickett is the given name on the Civil Registration Birth Index and on Census returns, but some military records have the surname with an 's', although the pension card was amended from Ricketts to Rickett. Also, the CWGC gives his first name as Henry, although no other records seem to use this and original CWGC documentation only gives the initial 'H'.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
