Private 5119

21st Battalion

Buln Buln, Victoria

His father, James Barrett of Nerrena, Victoria

Leongatha, Victoria 16/2/1916

Age 22 years 4 months, 5'10", 11stone, grey eyes and brown hair

Methodist

Farmer

He died of wounds to the thigh he got in Mont St Quentin on the 18/9/1918 and died in Rouen, France.

He was buried in St Sever Cemetery Extension Rouen, France

He was from Nerrena, Victoria


◈ 16/2/16 He enlisted in Leongatha
◈ 3/7/16 He embarked Melbourne on HMAT Ayrshire
◈ 2/9/16 He arrived in Plymouth 2/9/16
◈ 4/12/16 He went to France via Folkstone on S S Princess Victoria
◈ 30/12/16 He joined his battalion
◈ 19/1/17 He had trench feet and went to Rouen
◈ 21/1/17 He went to England with trench feet
◈ 22/1/17 He went to North Hampton Hospital
◈ 12/3/17 He had a furlough from hospital
◈ 6/5/17 He transferred to the 66th Battalion
◈ 10/8/17 He was discharged from hospital
◈ 10/9/17 He went back to France
◈ 3/10/17 He joined his Battalion
◈ 27/10/17 He was sick in hospital
◈ 27/11/17 He was awarded a DCM at Aranell
◈ In January 1918 he was ill with bronchitis
◈ 7/9/18 He was wounded in the thigh
◈ 8/9/18 He died of wounds
◈ He was buried in St Sever Cemetery Extension Rouen
◈ Decorations: Distinguished Conduct Medal DCM
◈ In February 1922 his father asked for his general medals and asked for the mothers or widows badge
His effects were;- 1 fountain pen, 1 metal watch, 2 knives, 1 pipe, 2 wallets, 1 combined notebook and note case, 1 YMCA wallet, 1 notebook, letters, cards, photos, 1 chain, 1 purse, 1 religious book
In his will he left everything to his father
◈His DCM Citation:
"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in carrying messages for forty-eight hours continuously to the front line under the heaviest fire. On another occasion, he gained the foremost position won by the battalion, and inflicted many casualties on the enemy with his rifle. Later he volunteered to bring back information, and successfully got through, though it seemed certain death."
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 95 27th of June 1918