Percy Espetxe Barrett
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Percy was born in 1885 in Elvaston and was the son of William T a domestic valet and Emma L Barrett of Elvaston Derbyshire. His siblings were Gerald (b.1886), Louise (b1890), William (b1891) and Florence (b1888.) In 1891 the family were living at Elvaston. However by 1901 Percy was also in service employed as a footman - one of eight servants working for Frederick William Anson a JP and is living at his address in St Albans. By 1911 he was employed as one of six servants to Phillip H Douglas a clergymen living at 48 Marina, St Leonards on Sea. On 10th April 1913 he married Ellen Mary Towers in Basford Nottingham. She already had a child called Francis Dable Towers who was born on 31st December 1911. Percy adopted him. By this date he was a licensed victualler and the couple lived at the The Royal Oak Screveton. Following his death , a letter was sent from the Ministry of Pensions dated 24th May 1918 to inform his widow that she would be in receipt of a pension to the value of 20 shillings and five pence with effect from 10th June 1918 in respect of her and her child.
Percy enlisted on 7th December 1915 in Nottingham giving his address as East Bridgford . He was aged 31 years and 6 months and a licensed victualler by trade. On 8th December he was posted to the reserves. On 24th July 1916 he was mobilised. He served on the home front while training from 24th July 1916 on 31st January 1917. He was posted as a gunner to the Royal Garrison Artillery where he served until 20th June 1917. On 21st June 1917 he joined the British Expeditionary Force on the Western Front and on 19th July was posted to the 219th Siege Battery,Royal Garrison Artillery. He died of wounds received following a gas shell explosion on 3rd December 1917 at 6th Station Hospital, Frevent,France and was buried at St Hilaire Cemetery Frevent (grave ref IV.A.24)
Inscription on memorial in churchyard: 'In loving memory of Signaller (sic) Percy Espetxe Barrett RGA who fell asleep in France Dec 2nd 1917. 'Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.' Interred in Frevant Communal Cemetery.' Private George Walter Sleigh, Machine Gun Corps, who died in France on 21 January 1918, is also commemorated on the headstone.
