Name
Alfred Barrett
1878
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/04/1918
41
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Gunner
1251070
Canadian Field Artillery
5th Bde.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
VIMY MEMORIAL
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Bishop's Stortford Town Memorial(*1), United Reformed Church Memorial, Bishops Stortford(*1), Bishop's Stortford College Memorial Hall, Bishop's Stortford,
Pre War
Alfred James was born in 1878 in Bishop's Stortford to Alfred and Eliza Ann Barrett.
On the 1891 Census he was living with family in Chantry Road, Bishop's Stortford, where his father was working as a Grocer. By 1910 he had emigrated to Ponoka, Alberta, Canada.
Wartime Service
He enlisted on 2 September 1916 at Lethbridge. Alberta into Canadian Field Artillery. He gave his date of birth as 1881 (actual date 1878) and occupation as Buttermaker. His stated religion was Congregationalist.
He left Canada on 4 March 1917 on Ansonia and arrived at Liverpool on 15 March 1917. Appointed acting Bombardier on 9 June. Reverted to permanent grade of Gunner when proceeding overseas on 7 August.
He was reported missing on 3 April 1918 following operations on the 1st. At that time he was reported to be a signaller undertaking dangerous work with another signaller.
Biography
Additional Information
Canadian service records exist. Probate granted to his father in London on 28 June. Effects £620 15s.
Alfred is also commemorated on the family headstone in Bishop's Stortford Old Cemetery, which in his case just records "Alfred Barrett 1877 - 1918 Killed in Action.
*1 There are two A Barretts, Alfred and Arthur. Alfred is definately on the appearing on United Reformed Church memorial, but the name only appears as A Barrett on the Town memorial. As Alfred was born in Bishop's Stortford and appears on the URC memorial, it is most likely to be him on the Town memorial.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Brenda Palmer
