Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”

Ernest Barrett was born on 14th February, 1885 at Aston, England. 

[Insufficient information is known about Ernest Barrett to correctly identify him in the England Censuses]

From the Victoria Police Gazette – 13 December, 1917:

DESERTERS  From the A.I.Force:

BARRATT, ERNEST VALENTINE, private, 32 ¾ years of age, 5ft 7 ½ in., fresh complexion, brown hair and eyes, crossed flags tattooed in right forearm, heart on left forearm and chest. Born at Birmingham, England; enlisted at Melbourne, His wife, Margaret Barratt, resided at Birmingham, England. Deserted from Broadmeadows Camp, 26th November, 1917.

He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 14th December, 1917 as a 33 year old, married, Saddler from Sydney, NSW (care Salvation Army, Peoples Palace, Pitt Street, Sydney) when he enlisted at East Sydney, NSW.

Private Ernest Barrett, Service number 7686, embarked from Sydney, NSW on HMAT Runic (A54) on 22nd March, 1918 with the 13th Infantry Battalion, 26th Reinforcements.

Mrs Maggie Barrett, wife of Private Ernest Barrett, wrote to Base Records on 12th April, 1918 to advise that her address had been changed from Liverpool, NSW to c/o Post Office, Cottesloe, Western Australia as she had friends in Western Australia. 

On 1st May, 1918 Private Barrett was awarded 5 days forfeiture of pay for “Making away with equipment by casting overboard” while at Newport Mews, U.S.A. on HMAT Runic.

He disembarked at London, England on 24th May, 1918.

Reinforcements were only given basic training in Australia. Training was completed in training units in England. Some of these were located in the Salisbury Plain & surrounding areas in the county of Wiltshire.

On 24th May, 1918 Private Barrett was marched in to 12th Training Battalion at Codford, Wiltshire from Australia.

Mrs Maggie Barrett, wife of Private Ernest Barrett, wrote to Base Records in June, 1918 stating she had previously notified them of her change of address in case of casualty etc of her husband. She advised that she had “not heard anything from him since he left only 1 letter from N. Zealand…”

He was reported to be AWL (absent without leave) from Codford on 25th June, 1918.

On 9th August, 1918 Private Ernest Barrett was declared by a Court of Inquiry held at Codford, Wiltshire to be an illegal absentee.

Private Ernest Barrett was discharged from the Australian Imperial Force on 1st April, 1920 “in consequence of desertion & was to forfeit all rights of repatriation to Australia, all service medals, leave and gratuity monies”. London Order No. 68 dated 27th April, 1920. Recorded in Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. 61 date 22nd July, 1920.

Recorded in the Service Record file of Private Ernest Barrett – Statement of Service form: “To undergo stoppage of pay under Section 119 of Defence Act for ____ of absence 25.6.18 to 1.4.20.” 

Base Records wrote to Deputy Controller, Department of Repatriation, Sydney, NSW in June, 1920 asking if they had knowledge of Private Ernest Barrett, 7686, 13th Battalion, who was an illegal absentee, returning to Australia.

Ernest Barrett died on 8th February, 1921 at Birmingham, England.

(Note: there is a discrepancy with the date of death as some forms show date of death as 9th February, 1921. Statement of Service form, Telegram to Headquarters Australian Forces Australia House stating “No means for funeral expenses. Is he to be buried as a Pauper. Wire Instructions.” & form sent to The Officer in charge, Records, Department of Defence, Melbourne from I.W.G.C. with details needing verification regarding the details of Private Barrett, his date of death & burial place & Summary sheet for Private Barrett (shows 9th crossed out & 8th written) all show date of death as 8th February, 1921; 2nd Statement of Service form, advice dated 15th February, 1921 from Brigadier General to Commandant 2nd Military District, advice of Particulars of Service issued to Department of Repatriation, Melbourne, War Gratuity Schedule, Service and Casualty Form Part II, all have the date of death as 9th February, 1921).   

A memo was sent to Melbourne (no further information to where it was from or to whom it was intended) on 10th February, 1921 stating that Private E. Barrett, 7686, 13th Battalion, Illegal absentee had died in Birmingham on 9th February & were requesting that his wife Mrs M. Barrett, Cooma, North Cumberland Street, Liverpool, NSW be advised.

He was buried on 12th February, 1921 in Brandwood End Cemetery, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England – Plot number C.1 “C.” 1248 and has a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone.

Private Ernest Barrett automatically forfeited his eligibility for any War Medals as recorded by Board Proceedings held on 14th November, 1922 as he was an Illegal Absentee.

He is recorded by Commonwealth War Graves Commission & The Australian War Memorial.

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)

https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/brandwood-end.html