Richard Barrett

Richard Barrett

Personal Information
Date of Birth	24 Oct 1912
Place of Birth	Bury, Lancashire, England
Death	6 Dec 1974
Place of Death	Byford, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	28 years, 4 months
Description	5'7¾" (1.73m) tall ; ; medium complexion ; light brown eyes ; black hair ; hernia scar
Occupation	Brickmaker
Religion	Church of England
Address	Seventh road, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife , Mrs Lilian Constance Barrett
Military Information
Reg Number	WX4721
Date of Enlistment	23 Jun 1940
Rank	Staff Sergeant
Unit/Formation	9th Australian Infantry Division Salvage Unit
Military Movement
1st Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	3 Jan 1941 ‒ 12 Jan 1941
Transport Details	HMT Aquitania Fremantle to Colombo
Transfers
Journey Dates	16 Jan 1941 ‒ 3 Feb 1941
Transport Details	HMT Y3 Nevasa Colombo to El Kantara
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	27 Jan 1943 ‒ 18 Feb 1943
Transport Details	L2 Egypt to Fremantle
2nd Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	29 Oct 1943 ‒ 2 Nov 1943
Transport Details	HMAS Manoora Cairns to Oro Bay, New Guinea
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	21 Feb 1944 ‒ 7 Mar 1944
Transport Details	SS Cape Perpetua Finschhafen to Brisbane
3rd Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	12 Apr 1945 ‒ 21 Apr 1945
Transport Details	USAT Sea Barb Cairns to Morotai (NEI)
Transfers
Journey Dates	2 Jun 1945 ‒ ? Jun 1945
Transport Details	USS LST 941 Morotai to Labuan
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	23 Sep 1945 ‒ 24 Sep 1945
Transport Details	Consolidated B-24 Liberator Morotai to Perth
Post War Details
Fate	Returned to Australia
Monument(s)	ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford) Byford WW2 Honour Roll
Medals	1939-45 Star Africa Star Pacific Star War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

Pre War

In 1924 was a student at the Byford Primary School. Electoral Roll entries: 1936 at Fifth road, Armadale, labourer; 1937 at Clifton road, Byford, brickmaker.

War Service

Richard enlisted on 23 Jun 1941 and was granted 2 days LWOP before reporting to the Northam camp. He also was given leave from 24 - 29 July 1940. On 5 Sep 1940 he was transferred to the 8th Australian Infantry Division Salvage Unit. From 7 - 25 Oct 1940 he attended a Junior NCOs School, and on 4 Nov 1940 he was appointed Acting Lance Corporal. Meanwhile in October Richard's unit had been reallocated and renamed as the 9th Australian Infantry Division Salvage Unit. Richard was granted pre-embarkation leave from 30 Nov 1940 until 7 Dec 1940, while on 1 Dec 1940 he was promoted Acting Corporal.

On 3 Jan 1941 Richard embarked on HMT Aquitania in Fremantle for the Middle East, disembarking in Colombo on 12 Jan 1941. In Colombo he embarked on HMT Y3 Nevasa for El Kantara in Egypt, disembarking there on 3 Feb 1941. On 16 May 1941 Richard's promotion to Corporal was confirmed and then on 1 Sep 1941 he was promoted Acting Sergeant. From 24 Nov until 8 Dec 1941 he was detached for 'Special Duties', and on 14 Dec 1941 his promotion to Sergeant was confirmed. On 21 Jan 1942 he was detached to the 1st Australian Corps Salvage Unit, rejoining his unit on 29 Apr 1942. He was promoted Staff Sergeant on 30 Jul 1942,

On 27 Jan 1943 he was embarked on HMT L2 for Australia, disembarking in Fremantle on 18 Feb 1943. Following some leave, on 4 May 1943 Richard was entrained for South Australia and then Queensland. From 10 - 19 May 1943 Richard was again detached to the 1st Australian Corps Salvage Unit. He was also detached for a time (4 - 25 Aug 1943) to the HQ Australian 2nd Corps. From 6 - 15 Oct 1943 Richard attended the No. 15 Ammunition Course at the Australian Army Ordnance Corps School at Broadmeadows in Victoria, and on 23 Oct 1943 he was posted to the 16th Australian Personnel Staging Camp which the same day returned him to the HQ 2nd Australian Corps On 29 Oct 1942 Richard embarked on HMAS Manoora in Cairns for Oro Bay in New Guinea, disembarking there on 2 Nov 1943, and on 22 Nov 1943 he rejoined his regular unit, the 9th Australian Infantry Division Salvage Unit. From 11 - 18 Jan 1944 Richard was seen by the 2/2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station who treated him for Haemorrhoids.

On 28 Feb 1944 Richard embarked aboard the SS Cape Perpetua at Finschhafen for Brisbane where he disembarked on 7 Mar 1944. Granted leave in Western Australia, on 22 Mar 1944 Richard was admitted to the 110th Australian Base Hospital with malaria. They transferred him to the 118th Australian General Hospital on 24 Mar 1944 before being discharged on 10 Apr 1944 to resume his leave and to then return to his unit in Queensland. On 26 Jun 1944 Richard was admitted ill to the 2/1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station with a fissure in his hand. On 29 Jun 1944 he was transferred to the 2/2nd Australian General Hospital with a Rectal Abscess. On 5 Jul 1944 Richard was released to the 9th Division Recreation Camp, returning to his unit the same day. However, on 27 Jul 1944 he was again admitted to the 2/1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station and they transferred him the next day (28 Jul 1944) to the 2/6th Australian General Hospital. He was released to his unit on 9 Aug 1944, and from 27 Sep 1944 until 8 Oct 1944 he attended the No. 3 Specialist Chemical Ammunition Course before returning to his unit.

On 12 Apr 1945 Richard embarked in Cairns on the USAT Sea Barb for Morotai where he disembarked on 21 Apr 1945. On 2 Jun 1945 he embarked on USS LST 941 in Morotai for British North Borneo. On 21 Jun 1945 Richard was detached to the 24th Australian Infantry Battalion. On 23 Sep 1945, at Morotai, Richard emplaned on a Consolidated B-24 Liberator for Perth, deplanning there the next day and reporting to the Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot where he was discharged on 28 Sep 1945.

Post War

Electoral Roll entries: 1949 - 1972 Brown street, Byford, brickmaker.