Henry Oliver Berrett^{[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15]}

1870 - 1951  (80 years)

• Name	Henry Oliver Berrett  [5]
  Nickname	Grampy Berrett
  Birth	7 Sep 1870	Clench, Wiltshire, England   [1, 2, 6, 8, 9]
  Gender	Male
  Death	1 May 1951	Stratton, Wiltshire, England   [8]
  Burial	5 May 1951
  Person ID	I209	DBH Twigs
  Last Modified	12 Jun 2026

  
  

  Father	Thomas William Berrett,   b. 1838, Wootton Rivers, Wiltshire, England d. 1905, Pewsey, Wiltshire, England (Age 67 years)
  Mother	Harriet Kimber,   b. 1835, Marten, Wiltshire, England d. 1881, Marlborough, Wiltshire, England (Age 46 years)
  Marriage	4 Nov 1858	Wootton Rivers, Wiltshire, England   [16, 17]
  Family ID	F75	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Kate Lovelock,   b. 26 Aug 1872, Wootton Rivers, Wiltshire, England d. 6 Nov 1937, Finsbury Park, London, England (Age 65 years)  [15]
  Marriage	29 Nov 1897	Pewsey, Wiltshire, England   [7, 8]
  Children	1. Harriet Winifred Berrett,   b. 1899, Wootton Rivers, Wiltshire, England d. 1901, Wootton Rivers, Wiltshire, England (Age 2 years)   2. Lillian Emily Kate Colenso Berrett,   b. 11 Feb 1900, Wootton Rivers, Wiltshire, England d. 7 Dec 1969 (Age 69 years)   3. Flossie Berrett,   b. 14 Dec 1903, Wootton Rivers, Wiltshire, England d. Feb 1995, Marlborough, Wiltshire, England (Age 91 years)   4. George Edward Berrett,   b. 3 Dec 1906, Swindon, Wiltshire, England d. 1976, Surrey NW, Surrey, England (Age 69 years)
  Family ID	F85	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	22 Mar 2026

  
  

• Photos » Slide Show		Henry Oliver & Kate Berrett Photo received from Gil Berrett Keywords: Family
  		Henry Oliver & Kate Berrett Photo received from Gil Berrett Keywords: Family
  		Henry Oliver Berrett Photo received from Gil Berrett Keywords: Picture
  		Henry Oliver & Kate Berrett Keywords: Family
  		Kate & Henry Oliver Berrett Photo received from Gil Berrett Keywords: Picture
  		Henry Oliver Berrett Photo received from Gil Berrett Keywords: Picture
  		Thomas William Berrett - 1881 Media Date: 1881 Keywords: Census1881
  		Henry Oliver Berrett Keywords: Picture
  		Henry Oliver Berrett - attestation 1891 Media Date: 1891 Keywords: Picture
  		Kate & Henry Oliver Berrett Photo received from Gil Berrett Keywords: Picture
  		Henry Oliver Berrett - attestation 1914 Media Date: 8 SEP 1914 Keywords: Picture
  		Kate & Henry Oliver Berrett Keywords: Picture
  		Henry Oliver Berrett - 1911 Media Date: 1911 Keywords: Picture
  		Thomas William Berrett - 1881 Media Date: 1881 Keywords: Census1881
  		Henry Oliver Berrett - 1921 Census Media Date: 1921 Keywords: Picture
  		Henry Oliver Berrett - attestation 1891 Media Date: 1891 Keywords: Picture
  		Thomas William Berrett - 1871 Census Media Date: 1871 Keywords: Picture
  		Henry Oliver Berrett - attestation 1914 Media Date: 8 SEP 1914 Keywords: Picture
  		Wilton - Batts Farm Keywords: Picture
  		Henry Oliver Berrett - 1911 Media Date: 1911 Keywords: Picture
  		Wilton - Old Windmill and Batts Farm Keywords: Picture
  		Henry Oliver Berrett - 1921 Census Media Date: 1921 Keywords: Picture
  		Wilton - Batts Farm Media Date: 13 OCT 2005 Keywords: Picture
  		Thomas William Berrett - 1871 Census Media Date: 1871 Keywords: Picture
  		BERRETT Henry Oliver - retirement North Wilts Herald Media Date: 13 SEP 1935 Keywords: Picture
  		Wilton - Batts Farm Keywords: Picture
  		Portsmouth - Cambridge Barracks The barracks were in use until after World War I. They then became part of Portsmouth Grammar School. Keywords: Picture
  		Wilton - Old Windmill and Batts Farm Keywords: Picture
  		Royal Artillery Keywords: Military
  		Wilton - Batts Farm Media Date: 13 OCT 2005 Keywords: Picture
  		BERRETT Henry Oliver - retirement Media Date: 13 SEP 1935 Keywords: Picture
  		Portsmouth - Cambridge Barracks Keywords: Picture
  		Royal Artillery Keywords: Military
  		Henry Oliver & Kate Berrett Photo received from Gil Berrett Keywords: Family
  		Henry Oliver Berrett Photo received from Gil Berrett Keywords: Picture
  		Kate & Henry Oliver Berrett Photo received from Gil Berrett Keywords: Picture

  
  

• Notes

  Henry Oliver Berrett 1870-1951 Always known as ‘Oliver’ and ‘Grampy Berrett’ By Gil Berrett On 1/1/1891 Oliver enlisted for the Royal Artillery at Pewsey for a short service of seven years in the army and five years in the reserve. At that time he was just over 19 years old and described as a labourer employed in the Savernake Forest, 5ft 9¾ inches tall with a fair complexion, grey eyes and light brown hair. He was initially posted to the Royal Garrison Artillery at Gosport and then to the Royal Field Artillery. Oliver was soon posted abroad and he served in the following countries: Malta (14/9/1891 – 2/21895) - he was promoted to Bombardier on 26/1/1895 (Bombardier is a rank used in artillery units in the armies of Commonwealth countries instead of Corporal.) Colombo, Ceylon (3/2/1895 – 12/11/1897) He was granted ‘good conduct pay’ on the 1/1/1893 but this was forfeited on the 13/3/1896 and he was demoted to Gunner. (It is understood that he was involved in a fight!) ‘Good conduct pay’ was reinstated on the 13/9/1896. On 29/11/1897 Oliver married Kate Lovelock at St. Andrew’s Church, Wootton Rivers, Wiltshire. Kate was the daughter of George Lovelock, the village blacksmith, and Harriet Ruddle, both of Wootton Rivers. His seven years in the colours ended on the 31-12-1897. Oliver then found work as a ‘shopman’ in the Swindon works of the GWR, later described as a ‘smith’s striker’ (one who assists the smith in keeping the fire up and helps at the forge. The pay would have been 22 shillings, that’s £1.10, for a 54 hour week!) He later became an ‘hydraulic forgeman’ at the railway works (GWR). Oliver and Kate’s first daughter Harriet was born in January 1899 but died 1901. He was re-called to Army Service under the Special Act of October 1899 and served abroad again as a Gunner. This time he was posted to: South Africa (9/12/1899 – 17/71900). Their daughter Lilian Emily Kate Colenso was born on the 11/2/1900. She was named after the Battle of Colenso which took place on the 15/12/1899. Oliver was appointed Bombardier on the 18/7/1900. This was the Boer War for which he received the Queen’s South Africa Medal and four clasps, one each for Cape Colony, Transvaal, Paardeburg and Driefintein. (Two Boer Wars were fought between the British Empire and the two independent Boer republics, the Orange Free State and the South African Republic (Transvaal Republic), founded by settlers known as Voortrekkers who made the Great Trek from the Cape Colony. The war most commonly referred to as the "Boer War" is the Second Boer War (1899–1902) which was a lengthy war involving large numbers of troops from many British possessions, which ended with the conversion of the Boer republics into British colonies, with a promise of limited self-government. These colonies later formed part of the Union of South Africa.) From 18/7/1900 - 29-3-1901 Oliver served in Hong Kong, taking part in the Boxer Rebellion, for which he received the 3rd China War Medal. (This was the Third China War, which took place from 2/11/1899 – 7/9/1901. The Boxer Rebellion, or more properly Boxer Uprising, was a violent anti-foreign, anti-Christian movement by the Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists, known to Europeans as Boxers from its Chinese name and practice of ritual shadow-boxing.) Oliver then returned to South Africa from the 30/3/1901-31/6/1902 and was discharged on the 31/12/1902 after serving 12 years. On the 11/9/1905 he returned to work as a labourer at the GWR in Swindon. His working week totaled 54 hours: Monday to Friday: 6.00am to 8.15am 9.00am to 1.00 pm 2.00pm to 5.30pm Saturday: 6.00am to 8.15pm 9.00am to 12.00 noon Oliver and Kate’s daughter Flossie was born on the 14/12/1903 and she was followed by a son, George, on the 3/12/1906. On the 8/9/1914 Oliver enlisted again for the duration of WW1 and joined the Royal Field Artillery. He was 44 years old (although the Short Service certificate shows him as being 42 years and 11 months!) 5/11/1914 – Oliver was sent to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force (The BEF was the British army sent to the Western Front in France and Belgium on the outbreak of World War I. The BEF was established following the Second Boer War in case the United Kingdom ever needed to deploy a force quickly to take part in an overseas war.) 25/12/1914 - promoted to Corporal 19/1/1916 - went into hospital suffering from lumbago 24/1/1916 - returned to duty 18/12/1915- Oliver was promoted to Sergeant. 7/12/1917 - appeared before medical board and was found to be ‘Unfit for front line duties’. 7/1/1918 - returned to England unfit for any duty in France. He received the 1914 Star (European War), British War Medal and the Victory Medal. In April 1918 Oliver was in Dublin, having been sent there to escort a prisoner back to England. He sent his wife the following letter: My Dear Old Dutch, I arrived in Dublin late last night and have had to stay here all day today, Sunday. I shall be glad to get back as this is an expensive job, I have run out of money really and I want you to send me back a pound note to Larkhill if I am not home by Tuesday night. I cannot get you any butter, I have tried at several different towns but is no go, so cheer up old dear. I am leaving here by the 6 pm train and going to Kingstown to catch the night mail. I ought to be in London by midday tomorrow. Will write as soon as I gets back. Love to you all from your ever loving Hubby 11/1/1919 – Oliver was discharged physically unfit, having served 4 years and 139 days. His weekly pension was 8/3 (eight shillings & threepence, £0.41) rising to 9/9 (nine shillings & ninepence, £0.49) Oliver returned to work in the Great Western Railway works at Swindon, once again working in the forge. He retired as an Hydraulic Forgeman and was presented with a model of a forge with the inscription ‘H.O.BERRETT - I’VE PRESSED ENOUGH’ In November 1936, shortly after retiring, his wife Kate died. He eventually took up residence with Mrs Aldridge, a widow living in Kingsdown Road, Upper Stratton, and spent much of his time at the Working Man’s Club. He died on the 1/5/1951, aged 81. He is buried at Wootton Rivers. Boer War 1899-1902 - Soldier details Name: BERRETT, Hy Oliver Printer friendly version Rank: Bombardier Soldier number: 82707 Unit: 15 Company (Southern Division) Royal Garrison Artillery Notes: China 1900. The Queen's South Africa (QSA) Medal Clasps: Paardeberg, Dreifontein, Cape Colony, Transvaal The Kings's South Africa (KSA) Medal Clasps: South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 Age: Literary references: Orders and Medals Research Society Journal (volume,number) 32,3 Medal roll (from National Archives WO100 series): Roll Page 137 17 145 35 145 106 145 141 145 169 309 75 Units: Rank: Bombardier Number: 82707 Unit: 14 Company (Western Division) Royal Garrison Artillery; attached Rank: Bombardier Number: 82707 Unit: 92 Company Royal Garrison Artillery; served with Rank: Bombardier Number: 82707 Unit: 56 Company Royal Garrison Artillery; served with

  
  

• Sources

  [S286] 1911 Census, The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911. [S23] 1871 Census, The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1871 England Census; Class: RG10; Piece: 1907; Folio: 25; Page: 9; GSU roll: 830867. [S4195] Ancestry.com, England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975, (Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.). [S4274] Ancestry.com, Wiltshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1922, (Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.), Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre; Chippenham, Wiltshire, England; Wiltshire Church of England Parish Registers; Reference Number: 1085/4. [S7] Find My Past. [S7] Find My Past, March 1871 - Pewsey 5a 179. [S7] Find My Past, December 1897 - Pewsey 5a 361. [S16] Gilbert Berrett. [S23] 1871 Census. [S286] 1911 Census, RG14PN11787 RG78PN651 RD240 SD2 ED21 SN141. [S329] Tony Berrett. [S340] Post Office Directory. [S1490] Census 1921 Stratton St Margaret, Wiltshire, England RG15 RD 240 RS 1 ED 11, (RG15 RD 240 RS 1 ED 11). [S757] Census 1871 Savernake, Wiltshire, England RG10 1907 25 9 48, (RG10 1907 25 9 48). [S797] DBHT (exported from Ancestry).ged. Record originated in... [S7] Find My Past, Dec 1858, Pewsey 5a 339. [S18] Clive Pinch, (Berretts of Pewsey Vale).