Private Joseph Garratt
| Date of Birth | 13 June 1897 |
|---|---|
| Age at Death | 20 |
| Date of Death | 5 August 1917 |
| Service Number | 24930 |
| Military Service | 9th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment |
| Merton Address | 59 Denison Road |
| Local Memorial | Christ Church, Colliers Wood |
Additional Information
Joseph Garratt was born to parents Alfred and Ellen (Nee Sillifant) who had married on 6th August 1879 in St. Mary, Stoke Newington. By the time Joseph was born on 13th June 1897 some 18 years later, his parents already had 5 children: Alfred, Kara, Alice, Edwin and Teddy. The family were living at 16 Laystall Street in London and his father was working as a Brass finisher.
Joseph was enrolled at Laystall Street School, on 28th August 1900 aged 3 years.
In 1901 the family were still living at 16 Laystall Street. They were sharing the property with eight other families all of whom were living in either 1 or 2 rooms.
By 1911 Joseph’s father still working as a Brass Finisher and the family had moved to 59 Denison Road, Colliers Wood. His parents had now been married for 32 years. Only two children were living at home Alice aged 22 working as a tobacco moulder and Joseph aged 12 still at school.
On leaving school Joseph took up a job as a Porter. When war broke out he was aged 15.
On 1st March 1916 Joseph joined the 3rd Battalion, East Surrey Regiment as a Private with the service number 24930. He underwent a medical in Wimbledon declaring his age to be 20 years and nine months. He was 5ft 1 ½ tall, weighed 100 lbs and had a chest measurement of 33 inches. The medical examiner noted down that he appeared to be aged about 18. He was in fact 17 and 9 months old.
On 11th January 1917 Joseph was posted to the 9th East Surrey Regiment and joined their battalion in France.
From military records we know that Joseph’s battalion was in the Klein Zillebeke sector between 3rd – 7th August 1917. The commanding officer wrote the following report:
“Rain continued to fall during this period causing very thick mud to form. Great credit is due to almost every individual man in the battalion for the energetic way in which he worked. No matter whether they carried rations, water, wounded or anything else they stuck to their jobs in the terrible conditions and always won through with a smile.
At 6am on the 5th August two forward posts were attacked by a strong enemy party of 25-30 men. Owing to the thick mist they were not seen by our own men until some 8 yards away, when our posts were immediately shot at and bombed. Our posts put up a stout fight against tremendous odds before withdrawing a short distance to another post just behind the original front position. it was feared that 14 men were left behind – either killed or wounded."
Joseph died on 5th August 1917 killed in action aged 20.
No known grave. His name appears on a memorial at Christ Church Parish Church in Colliers Wood and is also commemorated at Ypres (Meningate) memorial.