Name
James Horace Brett
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
29/09/1917
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
52418
West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own)
11th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
SANCTUARY WOOD CEMETERY
II. L. 23.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Resting. His duty done
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin War Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin, Not on the Letchworth memorials
Pre War
Son of the late Henry James Brett; husband of Hetty Mottram (formerly Brett), of 98, Rushby Meads, Letchworth, Herts. He was born in Battersea in London.
The1891 Census records James’s parents Henry James Brett, 39 and Minnie Adelaide Brett, 26, living in Shirley Grove, Battersea, London, with their children Henry W. 12, Adelaide F. C. 7, Albert E. G. 2 and stepson Walter H. N. 3. His father Henry was working as a Boiler Maker, he originated from Dover, Kent.
James was born in Battersea, London in 1894, the son of Henry James Brett (B1852) and Minnie Adelaide Brett (B1864 - D1897) (nee Talbott).
He was baptised on the 12th August 1894, in the Parish Church of Saint Bartholomew, Battersea, Surrey, London. At the time the family were living at 77 Wycliff Road, Battersea.
James’s mother Minnie Adelaide died in December 1897 aged 33, see was buried in Morden, Surrey on the 31st December 1897.
James’s father Henry died around 1899.
1901 Census record for James were not found. (As he would have only been 7 years old, it is possible he was living with a relative or possible in the workhouse as his parents had died).
1911 Census records James aged 16, and working as an Assistant to a Fishmonger, it also records him lodging with his employer Harold Frederick Furr and his family at Cooladine Street, Tilehouse Street, Hitchin, Herts.
On the 9th October 1915 James Married Hetty Maylin (B1897-D1966) the daughter of Charles Thomas Maylin and Sarah Ann Maylin (nee Norgan), at St Mary’s Church, Hitchin, Herts. They had one son Albert Charles Brett born on the 27th July 1916, in Hitchin, Herts. Hetty remarried in 1920, to Henry Charles Mottram (B1894-D1978) from Royston, Herts. They had 6 daughters Gwendoline Winifred, Vera Doreen, Jean Alice, Doreen Verena, Mavis and Pearl. Henry Charles Mottram served in the Machine Gun Corps during WW1.
His home was with Mrs Maylin at Hope Villa, 23 Kershaw's Hill, Hitchin and enlisted in Bedford in September 1916 and his service record describes him aged 22 years and 3 months employed as a Fishmonger, married with one child and living at Hope Villa, 23 Kershaw’s Hill, Hitchin, Herts.
Wartime Service
At first he was in the Huntingdonshire Cycle Battalion with the Regimental Number 2723, but later was posted to the 11th Battalion of the West Yorkshires with the Regimental Number 52418.
On completion of his training he was posted to the 11th Battalion, Prince of Wales Own (West Yorkshire Regiment) with the service number 52418. He landed in France in August 1917. The following month James was initially reported missing in action, later confirmed as Killed in Action on Saturday 19th September 1917.
The Battalion was in the 69th Brigade of the 23rd Division of X Corps in the 2nd Army and his death coincides with the Battle of Polygon Wood, although what happened is not clear. On the 20th of September the Brigade was astride the Menin Road facing Inverness Copse with Clapham Junction to their rear less than a mile north west of Gheluvelt. Violent attacks and counter-attacks continued for the rest of the month. There was little rain in this period but the scene was one of utter desolation.
He was buried in Sanctuary Wood Cemetery, Zillebeke in Belgium in Plot 2, Row L, Grave 23 and his stone has a private inscription reading "Resting. His duty done".
11th Battalion, Prince of Wales Own (West Yorkshire Regiment):
11th Battalion, Prince of Wales Own (West Yorkshire Regiment), was formed in York in October 1914, as part of K3 (Kitchener’s Third Army) under orders of 69th Brigade, 23rd Division.
On completion of their training the Battalion moved to various locations in the UK, they were mobilised for war in August 1915. The Battalion landed at Le Havre, France, on the 26th August 1915. Seeing action at various locations.
During 1917, the Battalion saw action at the following: Battle of Messines, Battle of the Menin Road, Battle of Polygon Wood, 1st Battle of Passchendaele and the 2nd Battle of Passchendaele.
The Battalion moved to Italy on the 14th November 1917.
Additional Information
A more detailed version of his biography can be found "here"
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild, Stuart Osborne
