On the Chatham Naval Memorial is the name of 2677B Seaman William George John Barrett, serving on H.M.S. Aboukir with the Royal Naval Reserve who died 22/09/1914.

The son of Francis Barrett; husband of Alice Barrett, of 12, Adelaide Street, West Hartlepool.

George had joined the Royal Navy when he was 16 years of age. He served for 12 years then was listed in the Naval Reserve to which he had been attached for another 10 years.

George was residing at 44 Furness Street, West Hartlepool. Durham at the time of his death. He joined the N.E.R. in 1909 as a mooring man at West Hartlepool.

George was killed in the torpedoing of HMS Aboukir, ship number 108151, by U-9 commanded by Kapitanleutnant Otto Weddigen on the 22nd September 1914.George previously had taken part in the naval action in Heligoland Bight.

He left a wife and two children. George  has the distinction of being the first casualty mentioned on the N.E.R. Roll of Honour page 276 Railway Magazine.

William George John Barrett is remembered  at Hartlepool on H115.16, H115.20, H115.26 and in H115.30 page 3, at West Hartlepool on W111.018, W111.032, W111.054 in W111.086 page 3, on the North Eastern Railway War Memorial (York) and in our List of Ships’ Crews.