Great War Western Front 1914 Cavalry group awarded to Private H.J. Barrett, 20th Hussars. From Warwick, he originally worked as a groom and for the Great Western Railway company at Leamington before seeing regular service with the British Army between May 1905 and May 1912, during which period he was tried and found guilty by Regimental Court Martial in April 1909 for gambling and permitting others to gamble. A Reservist, with the Great War he was recalled and back with the 20th Hussars saw service out with the British Expeditionary Force from 16 August 1914. His regiment fought in the Battle of Mons, the First Battle of the Marne, the First Battle of the Aisne, and the First Battle of Ypres, he being posted home in March 1915 and ended up with the Royal Defence Corps on service with the 216th Protection Company up at Leith.
Group of 3: 1914 Star; (5674 PTE. H.J. BARRETT. 20/HRS.); British War Medal and Victory Medal; (20H-5037 PTE. H.J. BARRETT. 20-HRS.)
Condition: Good Very Fine.
Herbert John Barrett was born circa July 1885 in Warwick, Warwickshire, the son of a soldier, John, and his wife Ellen, his father was then serving in Budbrooke Barracks. Barrett was baptised in Radforde Semele, Warwickshire, on 23 August 1885. Having worked as a groom, and also for the Great Western Railway company at Leamington, he enlisted into the British Army at Birmingham on 19 May 1905, joining as a Private (No.5674 also No.5037) the 20th Hussars. Appointed to Lance Corporal on 8 September 1906, he lost his good conduct badge in 1907 owing to being twice severely reprimanded for neglect of duty. Promoted to Corporal on 2 July 1908, he was however tried by Regimental Court Martial on 8 April 1909 on two counts, one of gambling, the other of permitting others to gamble, and was then found guilty and reduced to the ranks. Barrett’s firth misconduct amounted to being found drunk in town in July 1910, and for being absent from parade and gross disobedience in April 1911. He transferred to the Army Reserve on 19 May 1912.
As a Reservist, Barrett was recalled on the outbreak of the Great War, and returned to the 20th Hussars, seeing service with the British Expeditionary Force out on the Western Front from 16 August 1914. His regiment saw service in the Battle of Mons in August 1914, during both the First Battle of the Marne and the First Battle of the Aisne in September 1914, and during the First Battle of Ypres in October 1914. Barrett was posted home on 11 March 1915, and later transferred as a Private (No.85439) to the Royal Defence Corps. He saw service with the 216th Protection Company up at Leith.
