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Rupert George Bartlett 1888-1915 appears on a war memorial in Melton nr Woodbridge, Suffolk. He was killed in Flanders. He enlisted in Aug 1914 giving his place of residence as Southend, Oxfordshire. We can't find any obvious connection with Melton, Suffolk. He was born in Watlington, Oxon to Wm Bartlett & Lavinia nee Harper. (Watlington/Turville seem to be sometimes classed as Bucks.) I can't seem to find him or any of his family on the 1911 census. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. :-)

Here's his parents in 1911:

MEAD, Henry Head Married M 36 1875 Police Station Sergeant Anston Worksop
MEAD, Helen Wife Married 4 years F 27 1884 Wycombe Bucks
MEAD, Marjorie Daughter F 3 1908 Marylebone
MEAD, Barbara Daughter F 2 1909 Marylebone
BARTLETT, William Visitor Married M 49 1862 Labourer General Radnage Bucks
BARTLETT, Lavinia Visitor Married 26 years F 49 1862 Watlington Oxon

RG number: RG14 Piece: 218
Reference: RG14PN218 RG78PN7 RD3 SD1 ED22 SN6
Registration District: Fulham
Sub District: North Hammersmith
Enumeration District: 22
Parish: Hammersmith

Address: 6a Eynham Road Shepherds Bush W County: London

William and Lavinia had 9 children, all still alive at that time.

Rupert George was already in the army by 1911:

British Army Service Records 1760-1915 Transcription

First name(s): Rupert George
Last name: BARTLETT
Calculated year of birth: 1888
Parish of birth: Wallington
Town of birth: Henley
County of birth: Oxfordshire
Age at attestation: 17 years 11 months
Attestation date: 13 June 1905
Attestation corps: 3RD R BERS REGT
Attestation soldier number: 7409
Discharge rank:
Discharge corps: Princess Charlotte Of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment) - 49th & 66th Foot
Discharge soldier number:
The National Archives reference: WO96

ADDED: No details as to where he served. He was a farm labourer.

Parents William and Lilly (could be what Lavinia known as) brothers Robert, Guy, Erick and rest living at home.

Ah thanks. Helen Mead is presumably his eldest sister.

That is another mystery solved. Was he then discharged and needed to re enlist in 1914?

Margaret, it doesn't give any service history on that record, although it says "transferred to Regular Army" and that was in August 1905.

I wonder if that had anything to do with him reaching his 18th birthday? (He was 17 years and 11 months when he enlisted 2 months beforehand).

Thank you anyway. I wonder if perhaps his next of kin was living in Melton at the time he was killed.

I'm wondering if this could be him????

LEVETT, Frederick Husband Married M 45 1866 Farm Labourer Sussex Laughton VIEW
LEVETT, Elizabeth Ann Wife Married19 years F 41 1870 Sussex Marlsfield VIEW
LEVETT, Agnes Daughter Single F 17 1894 Matrix Sorter Lanston Monotype Corp Surrey Caterham VIEW
LEVETT, Alice Daughter Single F 15 1896 Lanston Monotype Corp Surrey Nutfield VIEW
LEVETT, Ann Violet Daughter Single F 13 1898 School Sussex Woodmancole VIEW
LEVETT, Frederick William Son Single M 12 1899 School Sussex Woodmancole VIEW
LEVETT, Ruth Marion Daughter Single F 9 1902 School Sussex Patching VIEW
LEVETT, George Son Single M 7 1904 School Surrey Nutfield VIEW
LEVETT, Albert Edward Son Single M 2 1909 Surrey Nutfield VIEW
TROOT, William James Boarder Single M 25 1886 Cowman On Farm Sherbourne Dorset VIEW

BARTLETT, George Boarder Single M 21 1890 Cowman On Farm Oxford Watlington VIEW

RG number: RG14 Piece: 3242 Reference: RG14PN3242 RG78PN122 RD37 SD3 ED12 SN128 Registration District: Reigate Sub District: Horley Enumeration District: 12 Parish: Nutfield Address: Ham Farm Cottages County: Surrey

I presume you have seen these Margaret?

BARTLETT


Rupert George


Private 7990 1st Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment, who was killed in action in France & Flanders on 16 May 1915. He has no known grave but is commemorated with honour on the Le Touret Memorial. Pte Bartlett was born in Watlington (Oxon) resided in Southend (Berks) and enlisted in Reading. This is the only Rupert George Bartlett recorded in SDGW or CWGC Register, although there is no apparent link to Melton. Further research is required.


from http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Suffolk/Melton.html


and

Name Rupert George BARTLETT
Rank/Number Private 7990
Regiment Royal Berkshire Regiment 1st Battalion
Enlisted Reading, Berks
Age/Date of death 27 16 May 1915
How died/Theatre of war Killed in action France & Flanders
Last known address Southend, Oxon
Cemetery Le Touret Memorial, Pas de Calais, France
Grave or Memorial Reference Panel 30
Location of memorial Turville
Date/Place of birth c1888 Watlington, Oxon
Date/Place of baptism 08 Apr 1888 Turville
Pre-war occupation of Casualty
Parents William & Lavinia Bartlett
Parent's occupation wood turner (chair)
Parents’ Address (last known) 1901: Summers Heath, Turville


from http://www.buckinghamshireremembers.org.uk/php_scripts/bksidget.php?id=3530

For ref:-

1901 England Census about William Bartlett
Name: William Bartlett
Age: 39
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1862
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Lavenia Bartlett
Gender: Male
Where born: Sprige Ally, Buckinghamshire, England
Civil Parish: Turville
Ecclesiastical parish: St Mary
Town: Turville
County/Island: Buckinghamshire
Country: England
Street Address:

Occupation: Wood Turner

Registration District: Wycombe
Sub-registration District: Marlow
ED, institution, or vessel: 8
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Schedule Number: 56
Piece: 1351
Folio: 52
Page Number: 9
Household Members:
Name Age
William Bartlett 39
Lavenia Bartlett 39
Mary Bartlett 15
Rupert Bartlett 13
Gladys Bartlett 11
Hugh Bartlett 8
Eric Bartlett 7
Josephine Bartlett 5
Norah Bartlett 1
................................................

..........................and here are the younger children in 1911 ?:-

CASTLE, May Daughter Married F 24 1887 Northend Bucks VIEW (married for 1yr. with 2 children 1 still living and 1 died)

BARTLETT, Eric Son Single M 17 1894 Cowman On Farm Summers Heath Bucks VIEW
BARTLETT, Josia Daughter F 14 1897 Summers Heath Bucks VIEW
BARTLETT, Nora Daughter F 11 1900 Pishill Oxon VIEW
BARTLETT, Ben Son M 8 1903 Southend Bucks VIEW

RG number: RG14 Piece: 7914 Reference: RG14PN7914 RG78PN396 RD145 SD4 ED9 SN70 Registration District: Wycombe Sub District: Stokenchurch Enumeration District: 9 Parish: Turville Address: Kiln House Southend Henley on Thames County: Buckinghamshire

The names of William and Lavinia are noted on the first and second lines but then crossed out.

This would be May's marriage:-

Marriages Jun 1909 (>99%)
BARTLETT May Harper Wycombe 3a 1631
CASTLE William Henry Wycombe 3a 1631

.....................................................

This may be the child that died:-

Births Mar 1910 (>99%)
CASTLE Frederick James Wycombe 3a 907

Deaths Mar 1910 (>99%)
CASTLE Frederick James 0 Wycombe 3a 473

Although Henry Meads did marry a Helen Lilian Bartlett, she never appears with the family in earlier census records, so not sure if she is the daughter of William and Lavinia????

....................................................

1891 England Census about William Bartlett
Name: William Bartlett
Age: 29
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1862
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Lavinia Bartlett
Gender: Male
Where born: Radnage, Buckinghamshire, England
Civil Parish: Turville
Ecclesiastical parish: St Mary
Town: Turvill and Heath
County/Island: Buckinghamshire
Country: England
Street Address:

Occupation: Wood Turner and Grocer

Registration District: Wycombe
Sub-registration District: Great Marlow
ED, institution, or vessel: 8
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 1140
Folio: 129
Page Number: 8
Household Members:
Name Age
William Bartlett 29
Lavinia Bartlett 30
Robert H Bartlett 6
Rupert G Bartlett 3
Dorothy G Bartlett 1
Richard Bartlett 27
Edith Clark 13

Thanks everyone.
:-)

More possible children born to may Bartlett and William Castle:-

Births Jun 1912 (>99%)
Castle Patrick C Bartlett Wycombe 3a 1912
Births Sep 1918 (>99%)
Castle Geoffrey E Bartlett Wycombe 3a 1313
Births Dec 1920 (>99%)
Castle Lilian J Bartlett Wycombe 3a 1724
Births Sep 1924 (>99%)
CASTLE Harold C BARTLETT Reading 2c 600
Births Mar 1925 (>99%)
Castle Joyce E Bartlett Wycombe 3a 1489

The district Wycombe spans the boundaries of the counties of Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire

Thank you