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Rflmn. Frederick Alfred Barrett
British Army 7th Btn. London Regiment
from:London
(d.7th Oct 1916)
Following my uncle's death, information has been found on his step brother's Dad, Frederick Barrett. He first entered France as Private 5332 with the 7th Battalion, London Regiment on 6th of June 1916, and served with it until 13th of June 1916. This short period of time means that he remained at the base depot and was never posted to the field with that unit. After which he transferred to the 12th Battalion (where he was renumbered to 7904) date given was on the 14th July 1916 and remained in the 12th until his death on 7th October 1916.
CWGC has his name placed in stone at the Thiepval Memorial, France. Information found shows that he lived in Kensington, which together with Soldiers' Effects and Results show that he was killed in action and indicates that he left a widow, Elizabeth and a child (Elizabeth who I knew as my Nanny Nicholls, The Old Lady) and the child as (Big Fred) from her first husband Frederick Albert Barrett.
The war diary only records entry, that at 1:45 pm they attacked Dewdrop Trench, and references a report attached. 1/12th Rangers were in 56th Division and were fighting near Les Boeufs on the Somme on 7th October 1916.
On the 7th of October 1916 the XIV Corps objective was a trench line from 100 - 500 yards away and on the right flank the 56th Division (Major-General C. P. A. Hull) attacked with two brigades. On the right, in the 168th Brigade area, the 1/14th Battalion, London Scottish found it difficult to maintain contact with the French on the right, who advanced eastwards rather than north-east. The Scottish captured a southern group of gun pits and pushed on to the south end of Hazy Trench 200 yards (180 m) beyond. The 1/4th London was stopped by machine-gun fire from the northern gun pits and tried to outflank them on the right. On the left, the 1/12th Londons advance was stopped short of Dewdrop Trench to the north-east of Les Boufs,
I have located a memorial to his unit in London, The Rangers, 12th County of London Regiment War Memorial, is in Chenies Street, London
