NUMBER:
Private 5119

BATTALION / UNIT / SHIP:
21st Battalion

PLACE OF BIRTH:
Buln Buln, Victoria

NEXT OF KIN:
His father, James Barrett of Nerrena, Victoria

PLACE OF ENLISTMENT:
Leongatha, Victoria 16/2/1916

PHYSICAL DETAILS ON ENLISTMENT:
Age 22 years 4 months, 5'10", 11 stone, grey eyes and brown hair

RELIGION:
Methodist

OCCUPATION:
Farmer

PLACE & DATE OF DEATH:
He died of wounds to the thigh he received at Mont St Quentin on 18/9/1918 and died in Rouen, France

LOCATION OF GRAVE/MEMORIAL:
He was buried in St Sever Cemetery Extension Rouen, France

RELATIONSHIP TO WOORAYL SHIRE:
He was from Nerrena, Victoria

MILITARY/OTHER HISTORY:
◈ 16/2/1916 He enlisted in Leongatha
◈ 3/7/1916 He embarked Melbourne on HMAT Ayrshire
◈ 2/9/1916 He arrived in Plymouth
◈ 4/12/1916 He went to France via Folkstone on S S Princess Victoria
◈ 30/12/1916 He joined his battalion
◈ 19/1/1917 He had trench feet and went to Rouen
◈ 21/1/1917 He went to England with trench feet
◈ 22/1/1917 He went to North Hampton Hospital
◈ 12/3/1917 He had a furlough from hospital
◈ 6/5/1917 He transferred to the 66th Battalion
◈ 10/8/1917 He was discharged from hospital
◈ 10/9/1917 He went back to France
◈ 3/10/1917 He rejoined his battalion
◈ 27/10/1917 He was sick in hospital
◈ 27/11/1917 He was awarded a DCM at Aranell
◈ January 1918 he was ill with bronchitis
◈ 7/9/1918 He was wounded in the thigh
◈ 8/9/1918 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 requested 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