Albert William Barratt

Albert William Barratt

Ancestry.com
Albert William Barratt (Ancestry.com.au from Jessica Barratt)
Personal Information
Date of Birth	29 Dec 1872
Place of Birth	Perth, Western Australia
Death	3 March 1952
Place of Death	Gosnells, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	43 years, 6 months
Description	5' 5 3/4" (1.67m) tall ; 123 lbs 55.792 kg ; sallow complexion ; brown eyes ; dark hair
Occupation	Orchardist
Religion	Methodist
Address	Kelmscott, Western Australia
Next of Kin	wife , Mrs Norah Agnes Maude Barrett
Military Information
Reg Number	6295
Date of Enlistment	4 September 1916
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	28th Battalion, 18th Reinforcement, 7th Bde, 2nd Div
Date of Embarkation	29 December 1916 ‒ 3 Mar 1917
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A34 Persic Fremantle to Devonport
Date of Return	15 Feb 1918 ‒ 18 April 1918
Ship Returned On	HMHS Llanstephan Castle
Fate	Returned to Australia
Monument	Kelmscott War Memorial (West panel) Gosnells Road Board Honour Roll Gosnells Ward Honour Roll
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

In 1898 he had married Nora Agnes Maud Prosser. Children - Irene Phyllis (born 1899 at Claremont (married Warren F. Paskett), died 26 Jul 1972; Raymond Digby in Perth (born 1901 - died 14 Dec 1921 in Gosnells); Constance Beatrice (born 1903 in Claremont, died 19 Nov 1993 in Como) - married Edgar H. [Ted] Hamling; Vivien (died before 1952), Norman Wilfred (1908 - 21 Mar 1986), and Olive Edith (born 1912 - 20 Dec 1984, aged 72) who married Reginald C. Carter.

The 1910 Electoral roll lists him as a gardener at Harris, Lawlers (Leonora) and in 1916 he is living with his wife in Kelmscott. Wife moved from Kelmscott to Astley street, Gosnells some time after he enlisted.

War Service

When Albert first entered Blackboy Hill camp he was allocated to the 82nd Depot Company, before being transferred to the 18th reinforcement draft for the 28th Battalion. A week later he was re-allotted to the 7th draft for the 5th Pioneers, but after a fortnight he was again a member of the 18th draft for the 28th Battalion. Locals who were included in other reinforcement drafts that shared the voyage to England on the HMAT A34 Persic included Alfred Tennyson Needham, George Mouatt Dow, David Forbes Abernethy, Charles John Mitchell, and Joseph William Smith. They sailed from Fremantle on 29 Dec 1916, and disembarked at Devonport on 3 Mar 1917.

On arrival in England Albert was posted to the 7th Training Battalion at Rollestone where on 27 Apr 1917 he was found guilty of being AWOL from midnight 23 Apr - 9:15am 26 Apr 1917. His punishment was three days confined to barracks and forfeiture of nine day's pay. He embarked for France from Southampton on 14 Jun 1917 and on arrival in Le Havre spent time in the 2nd Division Base Depot before joining the 28th Battalion on 3 Jul 1917 at Bapaume, just before it moved to billets at Cassels. The battalion was going through a rebuilding phase, with 287 new men joining during July. Soon after, Albert needed medical treatment for Trench Fever.

Treated from 23 Aug until 4 Sep 1917 by the 7th Field Ambulance, he rejoined the battalion on 4 Sep 1917. However, on 13 Sep 1917 he was again seen by the 7th Field Ambulance, this time with debility. On 19 Sep 1917 they transferred Albert to the 56th General Hospital in Étaples who then passed him to the 5th General Hospital in Rouen on 3 Oct 1917 to be returned to England on 24 Oct 1917 on HMHS Grantully Castle where he was admitted to Queen Mary's Military Hospital in Whalley, Lancashire the same day for treatment for debility. While in Queen Mary's Hospital Albert was charged with being AWOL from 9:30pm on 18 Nov 1917 until 7:00pm on 19 Nov 1917. Forfeited 9 day's pay. Soon after, on 29 Nov 1917 he was granted furlough until 13 Dec 1917 when he was to report to No. 2 Command Depot in Hurdcott where he waited for a berth home to Australia.

Sent home to Australia due to his ill health (Debility and Premature Senility), and discharged by the 5th Military District on 25 Apr 1918.

Post War

Electoral Roll entries - 1925 at Albany rd, Gosnells, an orchardist. In 1949 no change. 10 grandchildren at time of his death.

Aged 79 Albert's death is reported. Leaves wife Dolly and 6 children, 2 of whom have pre-deceased him.

Notes

'Qualified for Khaki, Albert is listed along with Arthur Leworthy Bettenay of Karragullen.

For more information about the history and heritage of the City of Gosnells, please contact the Heritage Coordinator on 9391 6011

External Links

• WAMDL - Western Australian Military Digital Library page for Albert Barratt.
• AIF Project
• RSL Memorial