Name
William Brett St Leger (MC)
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
27/04/1918
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lieutenant
Coldstream Guards
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Military Cross
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
AYETTE BRITISH CEMETERY
Row A, Grave 4.
France
UK & Other Memorials
St Mary's Parish Church Memorial,
Watford, St John the Evangelist Church Memorial, Watford,
South Africa Roll of Honour
Pre War
Son of Major Robert Arthur ST LEGER of Cape Province and Annie Beatrice (nee BRETT) ST LEGER.
His parents married 16 September 1890 at St Mary’s, Watford. Annie died 16 December 1921 in Cape Province aged c62; Robert possibly remarried 1924 in the Marylebone, London, district to Susan E BURNETT, and died 1953.
William was born 20 March 1895 in Watford, and baptised 17 April 1895 at St Mary’s, Watford. He was educated at the South African College School, and Cape University. In June 2000 his sword was auctioned fetching the price of South African rand 6,000.
He has an entry in the National Probate Calendar.
On the 1901 Census, aged 6 he lived in Croydon, Surrey, with his mother and four siblings. On the 1911 Census, he is probably in South Africa.
Wartime Service
He was a student in Cape Town, but left to serve in the German South West Africa campaign with the Cape Town Highlanders, which he joined in July 1913 as a corporal, left them in August 1915 to proceed to England to join H.M. Forces.
He attested in the territorial Force for 4 years’ service in the U.K. 3 November 1915 at Lincoln’s Inn, London, and was Private 7187 in the Inns of Court O.T.C.: aged 20, 5’11” tall.
He served at Home 3 November 1915 to 3 March 1916, and was discharged in consequence of being appointed to a commission in the Coldstream Guards 4 March 1916, gazetted the same date.
He was entitled to the Victory and British War medals; the 1914-15 Star medal was awarded by the South African Ministry. The medals were sent to his father of Cape Province, South Africa.
His Military Cross award was reported in the London Gazette 9 January 1918. He was killed in action.
Additional Information
There is a brief article about Brett in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 12 January 1918; and another article and a Death announcement in the issue dated 4 May 1918.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
