Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Amos Barratt a railway wheel tapper, born on the 15th January 1869 in Kirby Bellars, Leicestershire (son of Joseph Barratt, 1837-1887 and Mary Ann Manchester, 1846-1915) and his wife Kezia Barratt (nee Hulbert, married in the January quarter of 1891 in the Blaby, Leicestershire district), a hosiery trade seamer, born in the January quarter of 1873 in Kilby, Leicestershire and baptised on the 17th August 1873 in the Church of St. Mary Magdalene, Kilby (daughter of John Hulbert, 1843-1904 and Hannah Hurd (Heard), 1843-1929). Bertie was born in the April quarter of 1891 in Wigston Magna, Leicestershire, his siblings were Ernest, born on the 4th November 1892, Horace, born on the 1st December 1895, Amos, born in the April quarter of 1897 and Wilfrid, born on the 22nd July 1898, all his siblings were born in Wigston Magna, in March 1901 the family home was at 3, Gladstone Street, Wigston Magna. In April 1911 Bertie was employed as an assistant carrier and was residing in the family home at 39, Victoria Street, Wigston Magna, together with his father, a railway labourer, his mother and siblings, Ernest, an apprentice tailor, Horace, a boot trade finisher, Amos, a boot trade finisher, Wilfrid, a schoolboy, David, a schoolboy, born on the 14th June 1901, Caroline, a schoolgirl, born on the 19th November 1904 and Florence Hannah, a schoolgirl, born on the 18th March 1907, the latter three siblings were all born in Wigston Magna. Bertie married widow, Annie Harrison on the 31st January 1918 in All Saint’s Church, Wigston Magna, they resided at 51, Gladstone Street, Wigston Magna. Annie was born on the 12th December 1889 in Goddington, Oxfordshire (daughter of John Corbett and Wise). Bertie and Annie had a son, Bernard, born on the 5th July 1918 in Wigston Magna and baptised on the 28th July 1918 in All Saint’s Church, Wigston Magna. Bertie’s wife had previously married Charles W. Harrison in the July quarter of 1912 in the Blaby, Leicestershire district. Bertie’s younger brother, Amos was killed in action on the 28th September 1918.
FAMILY NOTE: Bertie also had the following siblings, Joseph, born in the January quarter of 1900 in Wigston Magna, and who died in the April quarter of 1900 in Wigston Magna and George, born on the 2nd August 1915 in Wigston Magna.
Bertie’s army service enlistment documents do not survive, therefore the currently available information pertaining to his military service has been obtained from the following sources: - WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Registers.
Enlisted/Attested in Leicester into the Regular Army. 15/11/15.
Joined. At Leicester. Date not known.
Posted. To Leicestershire Regt. Pte. Date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 22720.
Posted. To 12th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. Date not known.
Discharged as medically unfit under Paragraph 2 (b) II of King’s Regulations. 15/6/16.
Awarded Silver War Badge No. 425477. 10/7/18.
Died. In Base Hospital, mitral disease and cardiac failure. 15/5/20.
Buried in Wigston Cemetery, Leicestershire, England.
On Monday May 15th, 1922, The Leicester Daily Mercury published the following article on page 7, under the heading. – BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS. – IN MEMORIAM. – BARRATT. – In loving memory of our dear son, Bertie (Dick), who died at the Base Hospital, 15th May, 1920. Today recalls sad memories. Long nights, and days he bore his pain. To wait for cure, but all in vain. Till God above knew what was best. And called him to his home of rest. – From his Father and Mother; also Brothers, Sisters, and his little Son Bernard, 39, Victoria-street, Wigston.
The CWGC headstone inscription chosen by his family reads. “At rest.”
[recognitum XXII-II-MMXXIII]