George Jarratt, V.C.

This name is on the St Mark's War Memorial, Kennington Oval, London SE11

G. Jarratt, V.C.

(George Jarratt)

Service no 55295

Corporal, Royal Fusiliers, 8th Battalion

Died age 25 on 3 May 1917

Husband of G. M. Jarratt, of 28 Stanley Road, Southgate, Middx. An extract from "The London Gazette" dated 8th June, 1917 records the following:-"For most conspicuous bravery and devotion in deliberately sacrificing his life to save others. He had, together with some wounded men, been taken prisoner and placed under guard in a dug-out. The same evening the enemy were driven back by our troops, the leading infantrymen of which commenced to bomb the dug-outs. A grenade fell in the dugout, and without hesitation Cpl. Jarratt placed both feet on the grenade, the subsequent explosion blowing off both his legs. The wounded were later safely removed to our lines, but Cpl. Jarratt died before he could be removed. By this supreme act of self-sacrifice the lives of these wounded were saved."

Remembered at Arras Memorial, France and at St Mark's Church, London

There is an entry for George Jarratt at Find-a-Grave

George Jarratt was born in Kennington on 22 July 1891. He married Gertrude Elkins in 1915. Their daughter Joyce was born in 1916. Jarratt worked at a gin distillery before joining the Royal Fusiliers.

See also Southwark News

Information from the 1911 census

In 1911 George Jarratt, aged 19, was working as a junior clerk for a distillery (Beefeater's Gin distillery still operates in Kennington). His father Levi, 59 and from Tilford, Surrey, was a "general hop keeper". His wife, Frances, 56, was from Farnham. Surrey. The children on the census were:

Elsie Jarrett, 29, a military tailor, born in Farnham

Edith Jarratt, 22, a "numberer", born in Kennington

George Jarratt, 19, a junior clerk, born in Kennington

Sidney Jarratt, 17, a junior clerk, born in Kennington

Percy Jarratt, 14, an office boy, born in Kennington