Albert Edward Garratt
Educated Calverton Road Schools. He was employed as a coal miner and then became a police constable with Nottinghamshire Constabulary, stationed at Skegby, Nottinghamshire.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Edward was born in 1894 at Arnold, he was the son of Henry Garratt a colliery mine examiner and Mary Garratt née Isaac of Redhill Daybrook Nottingham.
His father Henry was born in 1865 at Arnold, his mother Mary Isaac was born in 1861 at Ropsley, Lincolnshire, they went on to have 7 children.
In the 1911 census he and his family were living at Redhill. Henry 46 yrs is a coal mine examiner, he is living with his wife Mary 50 yrs and their children, George Wiliam 23 yrs a hosiery hand, Samuel 20 yrs a butchers assistant, Albert Edward 18 yrs a coal miner, Florence 15 yrs a laundry assistant, Ethel 13 yrs and John 8 years of age.
Edward's personal effects were returned to his father; it seems these were sent to a former address as Henry advised the army in March 1917 that his address was 191 Mansfield Road Daybrook.
His service record shows that he enlisted at Mansfield on 10th November 1915 giving his age as 22 years and 221 days. He enlisted into 176 Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. He embarked Southampton 25 September 1916, disembarking at Le Havre 26 September. He was admitted to hospital (sick) 5 February 1917 but returned to duty the following day.
Edward was with his unit in the Ypres Salient, which, whilst not so active at this particular time, due to the very bad winter conditions, was far from a safe area and both sides continued the combat, usually strafing with artillery fire, on a daily basis. It was during one of these German 'Straffs' on the British lines that Edward was killed whilst manning his gun sited in the trenches near Vlamertinghe.
He is buried at Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery, Belgium
Death notice published 26th February 1917 in the Nottingham Evening Post :-
“GARRATT. – Killed in action, February 8th, 1917, Gunner A. E. Garratt, R.G.A., the dearly beloved son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Garratt, of Daybrook, aged 23. He sleeps not in his native land, but beneath some foreign sky; far from those who loved him best, in a hero's grave he lies.”
In memoriam notice published 8th February 1918 in the Nottingham Evening Post; -
“GARRATT. – In loving memory of Gnr. A. E. Garrett, R.G.A., killed in action February 8th, 1917. A loving son, a brother kind, a beautiful memory left behind; he bravely answered his duty call, his life he gave for one and all. – Mother, father, sisters, and brothers.”
Above are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
Listed in the Nottinghamshire County Council register of employees who served ((Nottinghamshire Archives CC CL 2 /12/1/1)
Albert Edward Garratt
Buried in Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery.