Francis George Pettet - Chailey 1914-1918

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Francis George Pettet appears on the 1891 census for Barcombe in Sussex. At the time the census was taken the family was living at Markstakes Common and comprised Thomas Pettet (head, aged 47, a journeyman brickmaker), his 40 year old wife Ellen and their two children: Francis (aged six) and Florence Pettet (aged four). Francis had been born in Barcombe and his birth registered in the December quarter of 1884 at Lewes as Francis George Pettet. In 1891, the family also had a 13 year old servant (Sarah Fermor or Fermer) and a lodger, Ernest Cox aged 34.

I have been unable to trace Francis Pettet on the 1901 census but Chailey Parish Magazine first mentions him in December 1916, noting simply, Pettit, Pte F. The following month, that information is updated to noted his middle initial and that he is serving with the Royal Field Artillery. In April 1917, Chailey Parish Magazine corrects his rank to “Gunner” and Pettet, Gunner F G, RFA is then repeated up to and including the final published roll call in July 1919.

Only two pages of Francis's service record survive at the National Archives (WO 363 series) although admittedly this is more than survives for the majority of WW1 soldiers. He attested for service, probably under the Derby Scheme, at Eastbourne on the 20th November 1915 He gave his address as 15 Mountney Road, Eastbourne and his age as 30 years and 79 days. His trade is noted as draper's assistant and he had seen previous service with the Sussex Yeomanry.

Francis was five feet five and a half inches tall and he gave his wife as his next of kin. She was Beatrice Lousie Pettet (nee Hudson) and they had married on the 13th April 1911 in Eastbourne. The couple had one child - Kenneth Frank Pettet - born on 14th March 1914.

It looks as though Francis went overseas in 1917 but that is all the information that survives.

Acknowledgements

1891 Census of England & Wales
England & Wales, Civil Registration Index: 1837-1983
Chailey Parish Magazine
The National Archives: Medal Index Card and WO363 service record