Edwin Isaac Barrett DCM
Name Edwin Isaac Barrett DCM
Number Private 5119
Battalion 21st Battalion
Place of Birth Buln Buln
Next of Kin His father, James Barrett of Nerrena
Date and place of enlistment Leongatha 16/2/1916
Physical details on enlistment Age 22 years 4 months, 5’10”, 11stone, grey eyes and brown hair
Religion Methodist
Occupation farmer
Date and place of death
He died of wounds to the thigh at the hospital in Rouen. He received these wounds at Mont St Quentin on the 18/9/1918
Location of grave or memorial
He was buried in St Sever Cemetery Extension Rouen
Relationship to Woorayl Shire
He was from Nerrena
Decorations
Distinguished Conduct Medal DCM
Military History
- 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
- 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 note book and note case, 1 YMCA wallet, 1 note book, 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
Date: 27 June 1918