Norman Denton Barrett
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 27 Feb 1923 |
| Place of Birth | Armadale, Western Australia |
| Death | 11 Apr 1973 |
| Place of Death | Doubleview |
| Age at Enlistment | 16 years, 11 months |
| Description | 5'8½" (1.74m) tall ; |
| Occupation | Labourer |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Bradshaw road, Byford, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr John C Barrett |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 24045 |
| Date of Enlistment | 16 Feb 1940 |
| Rank | T EM1(ST) |
| Ships Served On | |
| Ship Name | HMAS Lismore |
| Tour Dates | 28 Aug 1941 ‒ 13 Aug 1943 |
| Ship Name | HMAS Horsham |
| Tour Dates | 16 May 1944 ‒ 9 Jan 1945 |
| Ship Name | HMAS Shepparton |
| Tour Dates | 10 Jan 1945 ‒ 24 Nov 1945 |
| Ship Name | HMAS Mildura |
| Tour Dates | 26 Nov 1945 ‒ 16 Feb 1947 |
| Ship Name | HMAS Labuan |
| Tour Dates | 29 Jul 1949 ‒ 16 Jan 1950 |
| Ship Name | HMAS Condamine |
| Tour Dates | 31 Oct 1950 ‒ 28 Apr 1952 |
| Post War Details | |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Medals |
1939-45 Star Pacific Star War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45 |
Pre War
1933 attended the Jarrahdale Primary School.
War Service
Initial enlistment at Fremantle was as a boy, but on his 18th birthday he re-enlisted for 12 years. Sent to HMAS Cerebus for basic training, remaining with them until 8 Nov 1940. During this time he was rated as an Ordinary Seaman. From 9 Nov 1940 until 9 Jan 1941 he was posted to the London Depot commencing 27 Feb 1941. On 28 Aug 1941 he was posted to the HMAS Lismore, a minesweeper, or corvette as an Electrician's Mate then operating in the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf.
He was to remain with Lismore until 14 Aug 1943 when he was posted to HMAS Leeuwin, a shore establishment in Fremantle. On 26 Jan 1944 he was posted to HMAS Cerberus in Victoria, remaining there until 16 May 1944 when he joined the company of HMAS Horsham a sister ship of Lismore, based in Fremantle and then Darwin where her role changed to that of a survey ship. He remained with them until 10 Jan 1945 when he was transferred to another sister ship, the HMAS Shepparton which was also acting as a survey ship, based in New Guinea. He served aboard until 25 Nov 1945.
Post War Service
On 26 Nov 1945 he joined the crew of HMAS Mildura, then based in Sydney at the HMAS Kuttabul base, and he remained with them until 17 Feb 1947 when he was posted to HMAS Penguin on Middle Head in Sydney. He remained here until 15 May 1947 when he returned to HMAS Cerberus for a third time. During his time there his rating changed to EMI(ST), and on 29 Jul 1949 he joined the crew of the LST 3501 HMAS Labuan a Tank Landing Ship for six months returning to Cerberus on 17 Jan 1950.
On 31 Oct 1950 Norm joined the crew of the HMAS Condamine a modified River Class Frigate, then based at HMAS Penguin, serving on her until 28 Apr 1952 when he transferred to HMAS Lonsdale in Port Melbourne until 11 Jan 1953 when he was transferred back to HMAS Leeuwin in Fremantle on 12 Jan 1953 ahead of his discharge on 26 Feb 1953, when in lieu of annual and re-establishment leave, he received £127/2/6d. ($254.25).
Norm received 3 Good Conduct Badges, one for each four years of service beginning 16 Feb 1940.
Post Service
In 1954 Norm married Doreen Florence Ivy (1920 - 27 Apr 1997) in Perth. They had one child.
Electoral Roll entries: 1949 Flinders Naval Base, RAN; 1954 at Bradshaw road, Byford, electrical installer; 1954 with Doreen Florence Ivy at 54 Nelson Crescent, East Perth; 1958 - 1972 at 4 Hayburn street, Doubleview, electrician
Notes