BARNETT, John Sydney Wallace
| Service Number: | B5081 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 15 June 1944 |
| Last Rank: | Ordinary Seaman |
| Last Unit: | HMAS Nizam |
| Born: | Brisbane, Qld., 3 August 1925 |
| Home Town: | Victoria Point, Redland, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Victoria Point State School, Brisbane Anglican Grammar School, University of Queensland |
| Occupation: | University Student Engineering |
| Died: | Swept overboard in a huge Squall , At sea (HMAS Nizam), 11 February 1945, aged 19 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Cape Leeuwin "N" Class Destroyers Association Memorial Wall and HMAS NIZAM Cairn, Cleveland Redlands Honour Roll, Kangaroo Point H.M.A.S. Moreton Honour Roll, Plymouth Naval Memorial to the Missing / Lost at Sea, Wellington Point St James' Honour Roll |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Ordinary Seaman, B5081 | |
|---|---|---|
| 15 Jun 1944: | Enlisted Royal Australian Navy, Seaman, B5081 | |
| 11 Feb 1945: | Involvement Royal Australian Navy, Ordinary Seaman, B5081, HMAS Nizam | |
| Date unknown: | Discharged Royal Australian Navy, Seaman, B5081 |
Help us honour John Sydney Wallace Barnett's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
John was one of three sons. The Wallace-Barnett family where John's father was a popular and successful market gardener. He was an able student at Brisbane Anglican Grammar School. He came with a scholarship from the Victoria Point State School, until his senior year of 1942. During this time, he also rowed as a member of the Fourth IV, excelled in cross-country running. The following year he enrolled in civil engineering at the University of Queensland.
He joined the naval reserve and was mobilized for service on Jun 15th, 1944. Leaving his study and work on the family farm at Victoria Point.
He trained at HMAS Cerberus in Victoria before he received his first posting to HMAS Nizam. He was lost at sea only weeks after joining the ship.
War-time censorship meant that it could be another ten days before the incident became known and even then, the name of the ship nor its position was made public.
John Sydney Wallace-Barnett was only 19 when he and his crew mates were lost.
Click images to start slideshow.