Rifleman Alexander Vernon BARRETT (305)
1/5th (County of London) Battalion (London Rifle Brigade)

Date of birth: 12th March 1896
Date of death: 28th February 1915

Died aged 18
Buried at Longuenesse (St Omer) Souvenir Cemetery Plot I Row A Grave 45
He was born at Brixton, South London on the 12th of March 1896, the second son of Francis Sargent Barrett, a warehouse manager, and Louisa (nee Keen) of 'Glenorme', Polworth Road, Streatham in London. He was christened with his older brother at St Saviour's Church, Brixton Hill on the 7th of June 1896.

He attended the King's School Canterbury for one year from January to December 1912, when he played rugby for the 1st XV.

Following the outbreak of war he enlisted at London in the 2/5th (County of London) Battalion (London Rifle Brigade) in 1914 and embarked for France on the 25th of January 1915. He joined the 1/5th Battalion of his regiment in the field at Ploegsteert as one of a draft of four sergeants, two Corporals and one hundred and forty five other ranks as replacements for the battalion.

He was taken ill on the 25th of February 1915 with a suspected case of cerebral spinal meningitis, the second such case in the battalion. The disease was confirmed that evening and he died at 10 Stationary Hospital, St Omer three days later.

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