Charles Brett
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- Military History
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He was the son of Maria and Nicholas Brett. At the time of the 1881 census Maria and Nicholas were living at 4 Butlers Court with their children John (14), James (12), Nicholas (10), Charles (8, born abt 1873), William (6) and Henry (1). A sister, Mary is named on Charles' service documents, at which time (1914) she was 34 years old, married (surname Taylor) and living in a terrace off Gordon Road, Nottingham; she had three children. Also in the house on the night of the census was a visitor, Thomas Clarke (29) who was serving in the 3rd By Royal Artillery. In 1901 Maria (50, lace hand) and Nicholas (54, slater/labourer) were living at 13 Bellar Gate, Nottingham, bwith their sons William (25, collier) and Arthur (18, collier) Also in the household was a boarder Thomas Clarke (40 sic), a bricklayer. Charles married Mary (nee Warren) at Nottingham Register Office on 8 June 1907; they had two children, Albert (12 December 1901) and Maud Ida (6 November 1910). In 1911 Charles, Mary and their son Albert (9) were living at 13 Bellar Gate with Charles' parents, Maria Brett (63), named as the householder, and Nicholas Brett (67, bricklayer), together with his brother William (34, single, labourer); two more of Maria and Nicholas' grandsons, Charlie (14, printer) and John (12) were also in the household. Maria and Nicholas had been married for 45 years and had had 11 children born living of whom seven were alive at the time of the 1911 census. On 17 April 1916 Mary Brett, by then living at 53 Walker Street, Sneinton, Nottingham, was awarded a weekly pension of 21/- for herself and her two children. Mary Brett's declaration was witnessed by Rev Toomey of the Presbytery, St Patrick's church, London Road.
Brett enlisted at Derby on 8 December 1914 at the age of 37 years, 11 months. He embarked Southampton on SS Empress Queen on 29 August 1915 and disembarked Le Havre on 30 August 1915. He transferred from B to C Company on 5 September 1915. He was killed in action three weeks later at the Battle of Loos (see details from war diary below). From 12th Battalion Sherwood Foresters War Diary: 'LE RUTOIRE. September 26th 4am. Moved due E + held 1st line of English trenches in reserve of 71st Brigade till 11am. Then advanced in reserve of 72nd + 71st Brigades to attack VENDIN-LEVIEIL. 4.30pm Reached the LOOS-HULLUCH road when 72nd and 71st Brigades retired + left us on the left flank alone; after waiting for orders for one and a half hours we were compelled to withdraw and occupy the German trenches till relieved by the Guards at 2am on the 27th. 6 Officers wounded, 5OR (Other Ranks) killed, 56 OR wounded, 29 OR missing. September 27th 2am. GOC 24th Division came down to congratulate the battalion on the fight of the 26th. September 30th. Work of salvage and burial carried out by C Company in the morning. 15 bodies buried.' Charles Brett was not one of those laid to rest by C Company. His body was not recovered for burial and he is commemorated on the Loos Memorial at Dud Corner. It is to be assumed he was one of the 29 men from the ranks posted missing after the action of September 26th.
Sources: Brett's service record, 1911 Census, CWGC, 12th Bn Sherwood Foresters War Diary TNA WO95/2201/1. 1901 Census. His wife, Mary, may have been the daughter of Robert Warren (widower) of 9 Cavendish Street (St Paul's parish), one of three daughters still living at home; Mary was 27 (abt 1874) and a lace hand.
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