Name
John Reuben Brett
1894
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/08/1918
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
301568
Tank Corps
13th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
VIS-EN-ARTOIS MEMORIAL
Panel 11
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Vis-En-Artois Memorial to the missing in France.
UK & Other Memorials
London Colney Memorial, London Colney Roll of Honour, London Colney - incorrectly shown as Surviving, St Albans Citizens Memorial, Town Hall (old) Memorial, St Albans, Fleetville Memorial (Hatfield Rd Cemetery), St Albans, St Mark’s Church Plaque, Colney Heath, We are not aware of any memorial in Tyttenhanger Green
Pre War
John Reuben BRETT was born in late 1894, in Tyttenhanger Green, Hertfordshire. His parents were George Brett a Labourer and Ellen Brett (nee Smith). John was the younger of their three children George John, the eldest and Mary Ann.
His mother Ellen Brett died in 1897, aged 32, her death was registered in St Albans, Herts.
The 1901 census records John aged 6, living with his widowed father, brother George Jr. (14), and sister Mary Ann (11), in Tyttenhanger Green, Herts.
John is mentioned in the Colney Heath School log under an entry on 30th November 1906. “A boy J Brett has been a great source of trouble playing truant after remaining at home for a week with a sore foot. Cases of this kind are most exceptional and have (to be) punished for the offence”.
1911 census records John aged 16, working as a Farm Labourer living with his widowed father George, his brother George Jr. and his wife Ellen are living with the family in Tyttenhanger green, Herts. They have a boarder widow Mary Service.
Wartime Service
John enlisted at Bedford, originally posted to the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment as (Private 14185) before being transferred to the 13th Battalion, Tank Corps, as (Private 301568).
On completion of his training John was sent to France arriving on the 1st April 1915. Seeing action on the Western Front, John was reported missing presumed Killed in Action on 23rd August 1918, he has no known grave he is commemorated on the Vis-En-Artois Memorial in France, to the missing. Panel 11.
Additional Information
His effects of £11-17s-05d, pay owing and his war gratuity of £23, went to his father George Brett.
His brother Private 18195 George John Brett of the 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment was Killed in Action on 1st July 1916, at the Battle of the Somme.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Graham Clark – World War One – The Fallen of London Colney, Grace Clark, Jonty Wild, Gareth Hughes
