Name
John Brett
1886
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
24/04/1917
34
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Sergeant
14366
Princess Charlotte of Wales’ (Royal Berkshire) Regiment
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
DOIRAN MEMORIAL
Greece
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Great Hormead Village Memorial, St Nicholas Church Roll of Honour, Great Hormead, Not on the Buntingford memorials, Not on the Wyddial memorials
Pre War
John Brett was born in 1886 in Great Hormead/Hare Street, Herts (Royston registration district), the son of Eliza (Lizzie) Brett, and was baptised on 15 August 1886 at Great Hormead, Hertfordshire.
His mother married George Pinner on 13 October 1888 in Great Hormead but on the 1891 Census he was living with his grandparents, Thomas and Sarah Brett, at Hare Street, Layston, Herts and his grandfather was working as an agricultural labourer. His grandfather died, but John continued to live with his widowed grandmother at Hare Street and in 1901 was listed her and with fellow grandchildren, William Brett, aged 17 and James Brett aged 15. Fourteen year old John was then working as a baker/breadmaker.
His grandmother died in 1904 aged 71 and on the 1911 Census John was recorded as a gardener domestic and was living as a lodger with Martha Penkeyman, a schoolmistress, at The Lodge, Great Hormead, Herts. Also living there was 48 year old Alice Brett, an assistant schoolmistress, who was his aunt. Meanwhile, his mother, stepfather and four siblings were living at Cave Hall, Wyddial, nr Buntingford, Herts.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Reading, Berkshire and served with the 7th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment as Lance Sergeant. Initially serving in France from 19 September 1915.
John was killed in action in Salonika. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Doiran Memorial, Greece.
Additional Information
His mother received a war gratuity of £13 and pay owing of £20 1s 2d.
Pension cards exist with his mother as dependant but give no indication if a pension was awarded. This appears to be the only connection to Wyddial in respect of John Brett.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Malcolm Lennox, Jonty Wild, Carol Emery
