BRETT, Ernest Cecil


No.16193, Private, Ernest Cecil BRETT
Aged 19


8th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
Killed in Action on Saturday, 14th October 1916


Ernest Cecil Brett was born in Kedington on 9th November 1896 (Risbridge Q4-1896 4A:759), son of James and Mary Ann BRETT (née BOWERS).

1901 census...Aged 4, he was at Clock Hall Farm, Hundon with his father James BRETT [32] farm labourer born Hundon; his mother Mary Ann [30] born Hundon; brothers Alfred [6] born Kedington and John [9 months] born Hundon; sister Elsie E [2] born Kedington.

1911 census...Aged 14, a farm labourer, he was at Simm's Farm, Kedington with his parents; brothers James Alfred (farm labourer), John, Thomas Edward [8], Frederick Percy [7], Bertie Charles [5], William Victor [3]; sisters Elsie Elizabeth and Frances Susannah [1]. His mother and brotherJohn were born un Hundon, the rest were all born in Kedington. One of the 10 siblings had died.

CWGC have the family address as Brickwall Cottages, Hundon

His brother James Alfred was killed serving in France in the Suffolk Regiment in 1916 see here





He enlisted in Haverhill.

from Lt Col Murphy's "History of the Suffolk Regiment:
On October 14th the battalion took over trenches near Courcelette, preparatory to an attack on Regina Trench scheduled for 16th. That attack was subsequently postponed due to bad weather.

The CWGC records that the battalion only lost Ernest that day. Given the circumstances, since he had no known grave, his original grave must have been destroyed in later fighting.



Ernest Brett is commemorated on the Thiepval memorial, pier and face 1C/2A
also commemorated in Hundon

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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