Thomas Barratt
Private, 7th Battalion The South Staffordshire Regiment
- Register No.
- 53 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Private all Privates →
- Unit
- 7th Battalion The South Staffordshire Regiment all South Staffordshire Regiment VCs →
- Date of action
- 27 July 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 6th September 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Born
- 5th May 1895 at Dudley in Worcestershire
- Died
- 27th July 1917 near Boesinghe, Ypres, Belgium. (Killed
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- grave in Essex Farm Cemetery, Boesinghe, Belgium and in Coseley Parish Church, also in the Garrison Church, Whittington Barracks, Lichfield, Staffordshire
- Medal held by
- the Staffordshire Regimental Museum
Digest of citation
On 27 July 1917 north of Ypres, Belgium, Private Barratt, as a scout to patrol, worked his way towards the enemy under continuous fire from hostile snipers, which he stalked and killed. Later his patrol was similarly held up and again he disposed of the snipers. When a party of the enemy were endeavouring to outflank the patrol on their withdrawal, Private Barratt volunteered to cover the withdrawal which he did, his accurate shooting causing many casualties and preventing the enemy advance. After safely regaining our lines this gallant soldier was killed by a shell
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
BARRATT, Thomas (Reg. No. 53)
Private 7th Battalion The South Staffordshire Regiment.
London Gazetted on 6th September 1917.
VC Medal's Custodian is the Staffordshire Regimental Museum.
Born on 5th May 1895 at Dudley in Worcestershire.
Died on 27th July 1917 near Boesinghe, Ypres, Belgium. (Killed in action.).
Memorials at grave in Essex Farm Cemetery, Boesinghe, Belgium and in Coseley Parish Church, also in the Garrison Church, Whittington Barracks, Lichfield, Staffordshire.
Digest of Citation reads: On 27 July 1917 north of Ypres, Belgium, Private Barratt, as a scout to patrol, worked his way towards the enemy under continuous fire from hostile snipers, which he stalked and killed. Later his patrol was similarly held up and again he disposed of the snipers. When a party of the enemy were endeavouring to outflank the patrol on their withdrawal, Private Barratt volunteered to cover the withdrawal which he did, his accurate shooting causing many casualties and preventing the enemy advance. After safely regaining our lines this gallant soldier was killed by a shell.
in action.).
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: grave in Essex Farm Cemetery, Boesinghe, Belgium and in Coseley Parish Church, also in the Garrison Church, Whittington Barracks, Lichfield, Staffordshire
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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