Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Albert Edward Brett

24/06/1907 –23/07/1949

Son of Louisa Brett, joined Royal Navy at age 15.

Relatives

Louisa Brett — mother

• Melanie Hilton

Plot 1041 Albert Edward Brett  (1907-1949)

Albert was born 24 June 1907, the son of Albert Edward Brett and his wife Louisa (née Moore). Albert senior had been born in the Channel Islands, and Louisa in Guernsey, but information about the family has proved elusive, other than that Albert senior served in the Army during World War I.

In the 1911 census three year old Albert was living at 55, St Catherine’s Street, Winchester, as a “boarder” in the household of Maurice and Florence Adams. His mother was working as a live-in domestic servant in the Winchester household of Henry Bird, a gentleman of “independent means”, his wife and children. She is shown as married and having one child, but there is no sign of Albert senior.

Albert signed up to the Navy as a fifteen year old “boy” and served in HMS Ganges from 5 October 1922 to 23 March 1923. He then transferred to HMS Hood the next day, as a “boy” and was promoted to ordinary Seaman 24 June 1925. He transferred to HMS Vivid I on 2 January 1926 and served on her and HMS Columbus, Defiant and Valient until 1928. Throughout his conduct was rated “V.G” [Very Good]

On his enlistment record Albert is described as 5 foot 6 ½ inches tall on enlisting, but by the age of 18 he had grown to 6 foot and half an inch and his chest had expanded from 33 to 37 inches.

On 11 April 1931 he married Dorothy Charlotte Eliza Gilbert at St Peter’s.

Their only child, Barry J, was born in 1936.

In the 1939 Register he and Dorothy are shown at 13, Manor Street. His occupation is shown as “Supplementary Reserve Army [illegible] C RAMC [Royal Army Medical Corps]. Also in the household was his widowed mother Louisa Brett, a person whose details have been redacted and Barry J Brett, a schoolboy.

Albert died 23 July 1949 at 13, Manor Street and is buried here with his mother.

Louisa Brett

c. 1864

Mother of Albert Brett

Relatives

Albert Edward Brett — son

• Melanie Hilton

Plot 1041 Louisa Brett (née Moore)

The story of Louisa’s life has proved difficult to trace, other than she was born in Guernsey, married the elusive Albert Edward Brett who served in the Army during the First World War and had one child with him, Albert Edward junior.

In the 1911 census she was working as a live-in domestic servant in Winchester in the household of Henry and Frances Bird and their three daughters. Her son Albert Edward, aged three, was a boarder with a greengrocer and his wife in Winchester and the whereabouts of her husband has not been traced.

The census record gives her age as “about 47” (ie c.1864) with a marginal note “exact age not known”. Probably this was because Mr Bird filled in the record and did not bother to ask her. The record is clear, however, that she was born in Guernsey, was married and had one child.

By the time of the 1939 Register Louisa was widowed and living with her son Albert and his wife at 13, Manor Street, Berkhamsted. Her date of birth is given as 20 December 1875 and she was working as a house cleaner.