Gunner Frank Barrett, Royal Horse Artillery
In ever
Loving memory of
Frank C. Barrett
(Late R.H.A.)
Born 4th. August 1897.
Died 28th. August 1920.
Life's race well run
Life's work well done
Now comes rest.
Frank Cecil Barrett was born on 4th August 1897 in Mulbarton, Norfolk, the son of Mary Ann Barrett. In the 1901 census his mother, aged 28, was living at home in Rosery Lane, with her parents George and Harriett Barrett, her older brother Albert, her son Frank, aged 3, and her three other children, Herbert, aged 12, Matilda, aged 10 and Isabel, aged 1. They were all baptised in St. Mary Magdalen church in Mulbarton but there is not clue about their father(s). By the time of the 1911 census 13 year old Frank was the only other person living with his grandparents at 6 The Rosery. After leaving school he was employed as a telegraph messenger boy and by 1915 he was working as a nurseryman.
In February 1916 Frank applied to join the Royal Horse Artillery (RHA) as a gunner and was mobilised in August, by which time he would have been 18. His service record states that he was 5 ft. 10 in. (1.77 m) tall, of fair complexion with light brown hair and brown eyes.
Given the Service Number 153649, Frank served with the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in France from 1916 to 1919.
Frank was still with the RHA in February 1919 but was now in Esch in Germany. In May he was sent to a Dispersal Centre, to a RHA Depot in June and moved to the 'W' Battery, 6th. Brigade later that month. In January 1920 he was transferred to 'G' Battery. In March 1920 he was discharged from the Army and returned to Mulbarton.
Later in 1920 Frank was admitted to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital where he died on 28th. August, aged 23, from '(1) Subacute Infective Endocarditis, (2) Cerebral Embolism,' which must have been attributed to his war service for his grave to be assigned as a war grave.
Frank is buried next to the grave of his grandmother, Harriett, to the north of Mulbarton church, and he is listed among the Commonwealth War Dead. He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
On his service papers, Frank's next-of-kin is Mr. H. Barrett of The Rosery, listed as his father but almost certainly his older brother Herbert.
As Frank had died in 1920, after the war memorial inside Mulbarton church was commissioned, his name was not included, however, it has been added and he has now commemorated on the 'Roll of Honour'.
A survey undertaken in the churchyard around 2007/8 discovered Frank's gravestone in a state of great disarray, broken and covered with ivy.
It was difficult for any restoration to be undertaken regarding the grave because, before proceeding, any family of Frank Barrett had to be traced, as they were legally responsible for the grave as originally, the gravestone had been placed there by his family.
Eventually, the church in Mulbarton was allowed to take responsibility for the grave, in lieu of the family and initially the Parish Council agreed to take on the repair project. However, due to many other commitments delay seemed inevitable. News of the grave being discovered had reached the Secretary of Norwich Branch Royal Artillery Association (RAA) and as Frank was a Gunner, and therefore always would be, he approached the local vicar and offered to become involved in the process of the restoration, on behalf of the RAA, which was agreed. After liaising with firstly, the War Graves Commission, who could not get involved due to the original gravestone being placed there by family, the Secretary then sourced and subsequently secured a local stonemason, Paul Miles, who very kindly and generously, agreed to take on the project. Paul did a marvellous job, not only in repairing and restoring the gravestone and plinth but also engraving onto the cross, the cap badge of The Royal Horse Artillery as per World War 1.
Frank’s grave is now tended by volunteers in the village.
Gunner Frank Barrett, Royal Horse Artillery
In ever
Loving memory of
Frank C. Barrett
(Late R.H.A.)
Born 4th. August 1897.
Died 28th. August 1920.
Life's race well run
Life's work well done
Now comes rest.
Frank Cecil Barrett was born on 4th August 1897 in Mulbarton, Norfolk, the son of Mary Ann Barrett. In the 1901 census his mother, aged 28, was living at home in Rosery Lane, with her parents George and Harriett Barrett, her older brother Albert, her son Frank, aged 3, and her three other children, Herbert, aged 12, Matilda, aged 10 and Isabel, aged 1. They were all baptised in St. Mary Magdalen church in Mulbarton but there is not clue about their father(s). By the time of the 1911 census 13 year old Frank was the only other person living with his grandparents at 6 The Rosery. After leaving school he was employed as a telegraph messenger boy and by 1915 he was working as a nurseryman.
In February 1916 Frank applied to join the Royal Horse Artillery (RHA) as a gunner and was mobilised in August, by which time he would have been 18. His service record states that he was 5 ft. 10 in. (1.77 m) tall, of fair complexion with light brown hair and brown eyes.
Given the Service Number 153649, Frank served with the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in France from 1916 to 1919.
Frank was still with the RHA in February 1919 but was now in Esch in Germany. In May he was sent to a Dispersal Centre, to a RHA Depot in June and moved to the 'W' Battery, 6th. Brigade later that month. In January 1920 he was transferred to 'G' Battery. In March 1920 he was discharged from the Army and returned to Mulbarton.
Later in 1920 Frank was admitted to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital where he died on 28th. August, aged 23, from '(1) Subacute Infective Endocarditis, (2) Cerebral Embolism,' which must have been attributed to his war service for his grave to be assigned as a war grave.
Frank is buried next to the grave of his grandmother, Harriett, to the north of Mulbarton church, and he is listed among the Commonwealth War Dead. He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
On his service papers, Frank's next-of-kin is Mr. H. Barrett of The Rosery, listed as his father but almost certainly his older brother Herbert.
As Frank had died in 1920, after the war memorial inside Mulbarton church was commissioned, his name was not included, however, it has been added and he has now commemorated on the 'Roll of Honour'.
A survey undertaken in the churchyard around 2007/8 discovered Frank's gravestone in a state of great disarray, broken and covered with ivy.
It was difficult for any restoration to be undertaken regarding the grave because, before proceeding, any family of Frank Barrett had to be traced, as they were legally responsible for the grave as originally, the gravestone had been placed there by his family.
Eventually, the church in Mulbarton was allowed to take responsibility for the grave, in lieu of the family and initially the Parish Council agreed to take on the repair project. However, due to many other commitments delay seemed inevitable. News of the grave being discovered had reached the Secretary of Norwich Branch Royal Artillery Association (RAA) and as Frank was a Gunner, and therefore always would be, he approached the local vicar and offered to become involved in the process of the restoration, on behalf of the RAA, which was agreed. After liaising with firstly, the War Graves Commission, who could not get involved due to the original gravestone being placed there by family, the Secretary then sourced and subsequently secured a local stonemason, Paul Miles, who very kindly and generously, agreed to take on the project. Paul did a marvellous job, not only in repairing and restoring the gravestone and plinth but also engraving onto the cross, the cap badge of The Royal Horse Artillery as per World War 1.
Frank’s grave is now tended by volunteers in the village.