BARRATT Kenneth Franklin Lieut

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Surname: BARRATT;

Forename(s): Kenneth Franklin;

Initials: KF;

Rank: Lieut;

Previous Battalion: 3 of;

Previous Regiment: Essex Regt;

MGC Branch: Infantry;

MGC Unit: 12 Coy;

How killed: KIA;

Where: France;

When killed: 01-Jul-1916;

Other Data: Kenneth Franklin Barratt, Lieutenant, 3rd Bn. Essex Regiment att. Machine Gun Corps, 1st
July 1916. Age 21. Of Bell-moor, Hampstead Heath, London. Thiepval Memorial, Somme,
France, Pier and Face 10 D

Lieutenant Kenneth Franklin Barratt MGC
Born on 4/3/95 at 6 Gloucester Parade/Place, Hyde Park, the son of Florence Bessie Barratt
and baptised in St Martin-in-the-Fields in 1905. His father lived at 'Bellmoor', Hampstead
Heath and was a merchant. There is a cutting from an unknown source which is in his file
'Lieutenant Kenneth Franklin Barratt, Essex Regt, KIA 2/7/16 was the youngest son of of the
late Mr Thomas Joseph Barratt, the author of 'The Annals of Hampstead' and of Mrs
Florence Barratt of 'Bellmoor', Hampstead. He was 21 years old and obtained a commission
almost at the beginning of the war. The late Lord Roberts introduced him to his Colonel. On
leaving school he decided to farm and was on a farm when war broke out. He went out to
France 13/12/??. It seems he was offered a staff appointment but declined it. He is listed as 3
Essex Regt att 12 Company MGC. His commission application, dated 21/10/14, states that he
was unmarried, his permanent address was 'Bellmoor' and his address for correspondence
was Frainton College, Essex. In a letter his brother, Thomas Franklin Barratt (aged 24 in
March 1917), stated that Kenneth was 2 Essex att MGC. His father pulled some strings to get
access to Sir Douglas Haig via Sir Phillip Sassoon - he was concerned that he had heard
nothing from the War Office and what was being done as soon as possible because he did not
want to bother Haig again. There is a note saying that some days after he was killed , his
pocket-book, which had been shot through, was sent to 2nd Lieutenant E Rogers who in turn
sent it to Barratt's mother saying that he was glad that his body had been recovered and that
the party who found him had forwarded his pocket-book. A letter from his mother dated
21/10/16 to the War Office 'Dear Sir, I have been for over 2 months making constant
enquiries as to the effects of my son. Lord Roberts, being a friend of ours, gave him his
introduction to Col Colvin as he wished to join the Essex Regt. When I could get no
information I wrote to Sir Douglas Haig who very kindly gave special instruction to the
Graves Registration. I have written over and over again to Cox's with no satisfactory result
because I had nothing personal returned to me belonging to my dear son except a
pocket-book. He came of age in March 1916 and came home on leave in May. He told me he
had kept all his 21st birthday letters and other papers and I can't get one. You can find out
where he was billeted before he sent into action on 1 July and I and quite willing to pay for
finding these papers which I know he kept and which are of no value to anyone but his family
and I ask you kindly to have a search made. He had two Zeiss field glasses, two pistols from
Cockwell and Hanson, a watch, ring etc and I have received nothing. Who has these things?
They are mine by rights and by will. I want a search made please and I am willing to pay a
reward for his things. Some of the things must be in existence somewhere. Yours faithfully
Florence Barratt.' A further letter from his mother dated 21/11/16 'Sir, Since writing to you re
the enquiry, I kindly asked Sir Douglas Haig to have made - I have heard from Sir Phillip
Sassoon and seen Lieutenant E Rogers MGC who was with my son the night before 1 July.
He tells me they trained at Yverench for 2 weeks and that their billet was at Cumont Farm
and that before going into action they were at Bertaucourt, NW of Mailly-Maillet. Lieutenant
Rogers says that his papers would most likely be there. As you know they are important and I
am most anxious to have all his papers and also his watch, glasses and compass, revolver etc.
I have received some old clothes and to a great extent have been the instigator of the Daily
Mail correspondence which I should take up again later and get Lord Norcliffe, a friend to
help me'.

Photo in the Sphere
Photo Graphic [Hal]
joined 12 Coy 29/2/1916
death recorded in war diary 2/7/1916;

Other Notes: BARRATT, Lieutenant, KENNETH FRANKLIN, 3rd Bn. Essex Regiment attd. Machine Gun Corps. 1st July 1916. Age 21. Of Bell-Moor, Hampstead Heath, London. Pier and Face 10 D Thiepval Memorial - Somme, France.;

Related National Archives files: WO339/50223;

END OF RECORD.

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