Kenneth Kennington Bratby

Kenneth was the son of Joel Bratby and Emma Bratby nee Peet. According to the 1911 Census completed by Joel, he and Emma had been married for 17 years. However, the only record traced of a marriage between a Joel Bratby and an Emma Peet was in 1922 (J/A/S Nottingham). The 1901 Census was the first census in which Joel and Emma were recorded as living together; the census listed three sons, Herbert (16), Herrick (4) and Kenneth (1), all with the surname 'Bratby'. However, Herbert was listed on the 1891 Census as Herbert Peet, the son of Emma Peet (single), and when he joined the Army in 1902 he enlisted under the surname 'Peet' and described Joel Bratby as his stepfather. The record of Herbert's marriage in 1906 and the 1911 Census also gave his surname as 'Peet'. Notices of Herrick's death in the local paper in 1917 describe Herbert as Herrick's brother, but whether Herbert was a half-brother or 'full blood' has not been ascertained. Joel Bratby, was born in 1848 in Birmingham (birth registered J/A/S Aston, Warwickshire) but by 1891 was living in Nottingham as a boarder at 15 Bramcote Street, Radford, in the household of Kate Holmes, a widow. Joel (42) was a Leivers lace maker and continued in this trade for his whole working life. In the same census Herrick's mother, Emma Peet, was living at 5 Gladstone Street, Radford, in the household of her brother, George, a lace maker, and his family. Also in the household was George's six-year old nephew, Herbert Peet, who was Emma's son; Herbert was born in Nottingham in 1884 (birth registered A/M/J Nottingham). In 1901 Joel (52) and Emma (42), were living at 45 Bulmer Road, Radford, with Herbert (16), a coal miner ganger, Herrick Stanley (4) and Kenneth Kennington (1, b. 26 August 1899). Herbert, now a lace hand, joined the Army on a 12 year engagement (3 years with the Colours, 9 years in the Reserve) on 27 May 1902 when he was 18 years old (24391 RFA). He named Joel and Emma as his next of kin, giving their address as 45 Bulmer Road, Old Radford. After serving at home for three years Herbert transferred to the Reserve on 27 May 1905 and was discharged from the Army on 26 May 1914. By 1911 Joel (62) and Emma (52), a net mender, were living at 4 Ruskin Street, Radford, with their two sons, Herrick (14), who was an office boy for a telephone company, and Kenneth (11). According to the census Joel and Emma had had three children of whom only two were still living; it is possible that they had omitted Herbert as he was married and living independently. Herbert had married Edith Mary Daft at All Soul's church, Radford, on 25 December 1906 and by 1911 they were living at 76 Bloomsgrove Street, Radford. Herbert (26) was a lace maker and Edith (23) a jennier (lace). They had two sons, Herbert (4, b. 28 May 1907) and Thomas (2, b. 11 July 1909). Herbert, described as a Class 1 National Reservist, attested on 22 August 1914 in the Army Reserve (Special Reservists). He gave his occupation as factory/lace hand and his address as 47 Holden Street, Radford. Herbert transferred to the 1st Division RFRA (89871) and served in France from 14 September until 26 January 1917 after which he returned to the UK. He was discharged to the 60th Reserve Battery RFA in October 1917 as a result of a disability (synovitis right knee) and then demobilized on 9 January 1919. He was demobilized to 4 Ruskin Street, Radford, although an earlier address of 54 Mount Street, Nottingham, was given on his service record. Herrick joined the 1/7th (Robin Hood) Sherwood Foresters (265169 Private) and was killed on 1 July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme, although his death was not confirmed until June the following year (Theipval Memorial). Joel Bratby died aged 82 in 1930 and was buried on 13 October 1930. His widow died at the age of 73 in 1932 and was buried on 30 November 1932. Herbert Peet died in 1939, buried 2 February 1939; he was 55 years old.