Arthur William Barratt

Thank you to Bruce Kettles for providing the service file

 

Apr 26, 1874

Born to William John and Ann (nee Pizer) Barratt at Grimsby England 

In July of 1902 he was married in Lincolnshire England

 

Nov 18, 1915

Attested into the 91st Battalion at Chatham Ontario 

Ø      Number 189375

Ø      Next of kin given as Mrs Williams, sister, of 108 Harold St, Grimsby England

o       He reported that he was a widower

Ø      Previous occupation given as A.B. Seaman (Indicating that he was certified as an Able Seaman)

Ø      No previous military experience given

Ø      Religion given as Methodist

Ø      Assigned to “D” Company

 

May 1, 1916

On Command to the School of Signalling, but there is no indication in the file as to when he rejoined the Battalion

 

Jun 28, 1916

Embarked the RMS Olympic at Halifax Nova Scotia

 

Jul 5, 1916

Disembarked at Liverpool England

 

Jul 15, 1916

Transferred to the 39th Reserve Battalion at West Sandling

 

Jul 16, 1916

Attached to the 3rd CIB (Canadian Infantry Brigade) Signal Base at West Sandling

 

Sep 21, 1916

Transferred to the 21st Battalion

 

Sep 22, 1916

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) at the Rouelles Camp, Havre France as part of a draft of 145 reinforcements coming from England 

TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21st Battalion

 

Oct 7, 1916

Left the CBD to join the Battalion

 

Oct 9, 1916

Joined the 21st Battalion in billets at Fieffes France as part of a draft of 80 reinforcements that were required after the losses at Courcelette

 

Dec 26, 1916

Admitted to no 4 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) diagnosed with Myalgia to his back and legs

 

Dec 28, 1916

Transferred to the Canadian Rest Camp to convalesce

 

Jan 8, 1917

Discharged to duty from the Rest Camp

 

From the 21st Battalion War Diary

 

Jul 11, 1917

On the night of July 10/11 the 21st Battalion was relieving the 22nd Battalion and while the Battalion was moving into the line in the early hours of the morning, the explosion of a German artillery shell killed Pte Barratt. 

He was initially buried in the Lievin Military Cemetery, but at war’s end, his remains were exhumed and reburied in the Caldron Military Cemetery (Red Mill).  It was later decided to amalgamate the Canadian burials there and he was exhumed a 2nd time and reburied in the Loos British Cemetery at Loos-en-Gohelle France. 


Loos British Cemetery
Pas de Calais, France
 

Following the war the British War Medal, Victory Medal, Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny) and Scroll were sent to his son, Sidney Barratt, c/o Mrs Margaret Stanton, the children’s Guardian, 56 Amelia St, Chatham Ontario

No Memorial Cross was issued as both his wife and mother had predeceased him

 

Below is from the June 1936 issue of the Communiqué, the 21st Battalion Association newsletter published for many years after the war.  As is often the case with 20 year old memories, the writer mixed up the fact that they were in fact moving into the Reserve line, not being relieved from it.  Other than that minor detail, one must assume that the remainder of the details are correct



Return to Tribute list

Home

Contact