Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

28184 CPL E.A. BARNETT 3 F.A.B. A.I.F.

Served in France

Ernest Arthur Barnett was born in 1886 in Bungendore, NSW, the son of William Barnett and Mary Jane MacConnell. Ernest was a clerk before enlisting on 5 September 1916, which was probably why he spent most of his overseas service at various Australian headquarters in France and England.

He embarked for the war from Sydney aboard HMAT Ascanius on 25 October 1916 as part of the 5th Reinforcements, 7th Field Artillery Brigade. At the time of departure, he held the rank of Driver. He disembarked at Devonport on 28 December 1916 and marched into Reserve Brigade Australia Artillery No. 21 Camp at Larkhill the next day. He proceeded to France via Folkestone on 19 April 1917 and was taken on strength with the 3rd Field Artillery Brigade on 28 April 1917. At the time of his arrival, the 3rd FAB comprised 7th, 8th and 9th Field Artillery Battery AIF and the 103rd Field Artillery (Howitzer) Battery. He became a member of 8th Battery. As a Driver with 8th Battery, Ernest's role was to drive either a wagon or a gun carriage. Six-horse teams pulled most gun carriages, the drivers riding on the left-hand horse of each pair.

3rd FAB was stationed in the Hermes area, north of Paris, when he was taken on strength. The unit's war diary records that the 3rd FAB's guns were in use daily, with a wide range of fire missions, including barrages aimed at roads used by the Germans, cutting wire, 'sweeping enemy trenches' and attacking supply dumps within range of the guns.

Ernest remustered as a Gunner on 27 July 1917 at his request.
He was detached for duty with 2nd Army Artillery School on 3 November 1917. He was sent to hospital on 5 November 1917. He was initially reported as wounded in action – gassed; however, this was corrected to sick, suffering bronchitis. This put him out of the war for several months. On 21 November 1917, he was admitted to the 7th Convalescent Depot at Boulogne, moving to 10th Convalescent Depot at Écault (8km south of Boulogne) on 27 November 1917. On 15 January 1918, he was sent to the nearby No 3 Large Rest Camp to continue his recuperation.

On 11 June 1918, he transferred from 3rd FAB to the Australian General Base Depot (AGBD) permanent staff. The General Base Depot was used for those men not assigned to divisions. Australian soldiers arriving in France, whether reinforcements or those returning from hospitals, went to Base Depots before deployment to the front.

On 12 August 1918, he went to England on two weeks leave. With the war's end, he returned to England from France on 4 December 1918. He was promoted to Temporary Corporal on 28 February 1919 whilst stationed at Headquarters AIF Depot UK at Tidworth. This promotion was made permanent on 1 May 1919. On 29 July 1919, he embarked on leave, which he took en route to his next assignment at Sutton Veny. On 2 August 1919, he was attached to duty with Australian Headquarters in London, pending demobilisation and return to Australia. He was meant to return to Australia on Shropshire but did not embark.
On 20 February 1920, he was granted leave pending recall. Most likely, he toured around England or visited with relatives like many of the AIF post-war, knowing they were unlikely to get another opportunity once they returned to Australia. He ultimately returned to Australia aboard Bahia Castillo on 17 April 1920. He was discharged from the AIF in Sydney on 14 August 1920.

In 1924, he married Lucy Grace Foster in Sydney. During the 1930s, he worked as a clerk. The couple lived in Kogarah, NSW, before moving to Blakehurst, where he became a library attendant in the late 1930s. By 1943, the couple had moved to Hurstville, where they would remain for the remainder of his life. He died on 29 August 1955 in Hurstville, NSW.