Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Background

Born in 1874, Ernest Holland Barratt experienced his upbringing in Cooke’s Plain, South Australia. Growing up, Barratt was exposed to a rural and domestic lifestyle which influenced him later in his life, to become a farmer and sheep breeder. In his adult life, Barratt met and later married Rose Maple, who proudly became parents to five children.

Service on the Western Front

On the 10th of July in 1916, Barratt was enlisted as a soldier in the A.I.F. He was the age of forty-two when he was initially enlisted, which was not a common age during World War I. Barratt was a five foot ten male who weighed ninety kilograms and had a family of seven at home. These figures would have made it unlikely for Barratt to be enlisted in the army, however, this was clearly not the case.

Although there are no known photographs of Barratt, descriptions of his appearance make him sound like a typical looking soldier. Barratt was a middle aged man with blue eyes and brown hair. He was also fully vaccinated and followed the Congregational religion.

Barratt remained in Australia for nearly a year, only embarking for England on the 23rd of June 1917. He was Acting Corporal at this stage but reverted to the ranks due to an offence at sea. He disembarked at Plymouth on the 25th of August 1917 but never made it to France. He was put on a ship back to Australia on the 1st of November 1917 dur to "senility and rheumatism". He was discharged after his return on the 15th of January 1918. Barratt ended the war reasonably healthy and returned home to the family and community he had left behind.

Barratt then unfortunately passed away for unknown reasons, however, he is now being honoured for his service to the war effort. A memorial for Barratt has been set up in Bordertown, South Australia, where he is listed on the World War I Honour Board.

ANZAC Spirit:

Barratt served in the A.I.F. from 1916 to 1918 and during that time went through multiple rankings in the army in short periods of time. Although Barratt was discharged during this time, he still returned to serve his country. Barratt could have easily stayed home and cheered from the side lines, however through this act of heroism and self-sacrifice, he shows his ANZAC Spirit. Another way Barratt showed his ANZAC Spirit was through the dedication of training and serving in positions higher up in the army ranking. He was definitely not lazy and didn’t settle for the most minor jobs, which shows his ANZAC Spirit. Barratt was a strong, courageous and brave man who fought for his country.

Bibliography:

https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=14503

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=3052258

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1832528

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=3052258&isAv=N

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P10697030

https://www.francisfrith.com/hythe/hythe-school-of-musketry-1903_50380

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:AWM_P03796_2nd_Battalion_AIF_officers_Giza_Dec_1914.jpg

https://photoarchive.merton.gov.uk/collections/war/first-world-war/civil-defence-ww1/51179-special-constables-recruited-for-first-world-war-mitcham

https://www.empiremedals.com/products/world-war-1-set?variant=1017512683

https://vwma.org.au/explore/memorials/1133