262997 Pte. Albert Edward Bartlet British Army 1st Btn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers from:Basingstoke Bert Bartlett was a native of Basingstoke, Hampshire who, prior to the outbreak of the Great War, decided to join the British Army. Although relatively short in stature, he was a gutsy character, which was exemplified by the fact that he walked the 14 miles from Basingstoke to Aldershot in order to join up.
Unfortunately for him, however, he was underage and was turned away. Not to be denied, he took a similar walk, a couple of weeks later, on this occasion making his way from Basingstoke to Winchester!
Winchester, at that time was home to several regiments, such as the Hampshires, Rifle Brigade and the Kings Royal Rifle Corps. However, also present were the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and Bert liked the sound of them, so he gave the right age this time and was sworn in.
I know that he became a member of the Regimental band and that when war broke out he was abroad, possibly in India.
He took part in the landing at Cape Helles, at which time he was wounded and sent to a hospital in Malta to recover.
After he returned to his unit he went over the top on the 1st of July 1916, at Beaumont Hamel, where he was again wounded, this time being shipped back to England to recover.
He returned to his regiment again and became a Lewis Gunner.
The next action he was involved in was the Great German offensive in 1918, at which time he was taken prisoner, spending the rest of the war in a German P.O.W. camp.
He survived the war and lived into his mid 80s.
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