Name
George John Brett
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/07/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
18195
Bedfordshire Regiment
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
DANTZIG ALLEY BRITISH CEMETERY, MAMETZ
IV. C. 4.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St Mark’s Church Plaque, Colney Heath, St Albans Citizens Memorial Town Hall (old) Memorial, St Albans, Fleetville Memorial (Hatfield Rd Cemetery), St Albans, We are not aware of any memorial in Tyttenhanger Green
Pre War
Born and lived in Tyttenhanger Green, Hertfordshire. George was employed, for fourteen years at Highfield Hall by Charles Morris.
His parents were George and Ellen Brett and his wife’s name was Ellen Olivia (nee Childs – sister of Arhur Child who also died).
George’s elder brother, John, also died in the Great War.
George John Brett was baptised in St Mark’s Church, Colney Heath, on 29th August 1886. The 1891 census records George, aged 4, and his family as living at the house next door to The Plough in Tyttenhanger Green. Along with his immediate family. George’s mother’s parents John and Jane Smith were also living in the house at the time of the census.
The 1891 census also records the neighbours in Tyttenhanger Green as, Arthur George Payne and his parents William and Lillian; and Frederick James Cook and his family; both families suffered deaths in the Great War.
The 1901 census records that George also had a sister, Mary Ann and confirms that George was employed as a rural boy worker undertaking domestic duties, This was probably the start of his employment with Charles Morris at Highfield Hall.
George married Ellen Childs in St Mark’s Church on 4th September 1909 so at the time of the Great War, George was married but had no family.
Prior to enlisting was a member of Highfield Hall Cricket Club and was vice captain for many years. He was wicket keeper and batsman for the team.
Wartime Service
George enlisted in the Bedfordshire regiment in St Albans in December 1914 and went out to France in July of 1915. From the moment George went out to France the records would indicate that he had no home leave.
When George’s death was reported his wife, Ellen, was living with his father, George Brett (senior) in Tyttenhanger Green. George was officially reported as killed in action on 1st July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme, when nearly 20,000 men lost their lives and a further 40,000 were wounded or missing.
The Herts Advertiser reported that:
“Mrs Brett first received news that her husband was missing, but later the worst was reported, and a letter of sympathy came from the King and Queen.”
The report went on to describe how:
“Earlier in the month Mrs Brett had a letter from a friend of her husband – Pte H Morgan – who said [George] Brett was reported missing and believed to be killed. Pte Morgan wrote: “He was my best pal. Just before the great attack on July 1st we were talking together of what we should do if we came through the fight. The platoon miss him greatly. He was one of our best bombers.”
Additional Information
His parents were George and Ellen Brett and he was married to Ellen Olivia Brett (nee Childs) – she was the sister of Arthur Child, who also died.
Acknowledgments
Graham Clark – World War One – The Fallen of London Colney, Grace Clark, Jonty Wild, Gareth Hughes
