Private Herbert Arthur Garrett
Mechanical Transport Reinforcements Unit (MT), Army Service Corps (ASC)
Died in Military Service
Date of Birth: 1897
Place of Birth: Penge, Kent
Date of Death: 7 October 1917 aged 20.
Buried: Dar Es Salaam War Cemetery, Tanzania; remembered on Seafront Memorial, Teignmouth
Awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal
Private Herbert Arthur Garrett, age 20. Herbert was born in 1897 at Penge, Kent, the son of John & Emma Garrett, he was their only child. The 1901 census showed him living with his parents in Lewisham. On 1911 census he was living at Holmleigh, Holcombe, Dawlish with his parents and working as a market gardener for Herbert Garrett (his father) who also had a vegetable shop in Bank Street, Teignmouth.
Herbert’s father desperately tried to keep his son at home and appealed at the Tribunal more than once, on the grounds he was his only worker, see newspaper cutting. However shortly after this he was temporarily exempted. On 2 March 1917 the Teignmouth Post reported that “the case of Herbert Garrett market gardener was adjourned pending military examination. He was previously exempt due to agreement to keep all men on land until Jan 1917” (there is a letter from local doctor stating he had been suffering from influenza and complications).
He enlists at Newton Abbot on 28 May 1917 and serves with MT Reinforcements Unit in the Royal Army Service Corps, service no. M/ 334051, it is noted that he is a Wesleyan. His record shows that he embarked for East Africa via Durban, arriving in Kilwa Kiwimji on 19 September 1917.
Admitted to hospital on 4 October with dysentery, a telegram was sent to his father on 10 October stating his son was dangerously ill and that he had died on 8 October. A second wire was urgently sent to his father correcting this to state that Herbert died on 7 October 1917 at No. 19 Stationary Hospital, Kilwa Kiwimji, Tanganyika.
He was buried in the cemetery there, but later was reburied in Dar Es Salaam War Cemetery, Tanzania; remembered on Seafront Memorial, Teignmouth, Devon. Grave inscription reads: “Dearly Beloved Only Son There Is No Death We Shall Meet Again”.
After his death his parents gave up their business and moved to Queen’s Building, Teignmouth.
“Mr and Mrs Herbert Garrett of Bank Street sustained loss of only son Pte Herbert Arthur in Motor Transport Corps who died of dysentery.” Teignmouth Post - 19 October
"Mr Garret printed a letter sent by a member of his son’s regiment from East Africa re his son's death saying that he was buried by the sea with a cross marking it." Teignmouth Post - 25 January, 1915
The Royal Army Service Corps (ASC)
This was the branch of the British Army that was responsible for providing the supplies and reinforcements needed by other units who were fighting on many fronts.
During the Great War, using horses, motor vehicles, railways and waterways for transportation the ASC supplied food, ammunition, fuel, other provisions and reinforcements to where needed.
The ASC Mechanical Transport (MT) Companies used motor-driven vehicles.
