Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Michael Henry "Harry" Barrett was born on 20th January 1898 at Margate to Esther Ellen Barrett and father un-named.
He was the second child of Esther after his older brother William Michael Barrett (1894-1974). The boys were raised by their maternal grandparent Edward Alfred "Ted" Barrett and Sarah Poultney. They lived in a small hamlet known as Barretta just south of Margate, in the Channel district.
Harry enlisted in the 12th Battalion on 10th January 1916, aged 18 years & 3 months. His grandmother Sarah reluctantly gave her permission. He spent the next 3 years in and out of hospitals and the front.
Harry Barrett travelled home on HMAT Euripides arriving 18 April 1919, and rejoined his family at Barretta. On discharged he was medically classified as 100% shell shock. He worked with grandfather and uncles in the bush cutting timber and was a member of Tasmanian Bushman Association.
By mid 1920's he was working as a linesman and labourer in Victoria and in Surry Hills, NSW during the 1930's and into the 1960's. He was in Port Kembla in 1938 when he wrote to the army asking for a copy of his discharge papers.
He re-enlisted into the army in 1942 (Service numbers N216387) but was discharged after 6 weeks due to mental instability (shell shock). He stayed in NSW until about 1968 when he was recorded in the electoral roll as being a wharf labourer in Brisbane.
Harry died in 1977 at St John's Nursery Home, Toowong of a heart attack, coronary disease and neurosis (shell shock). He was awarded a service funeral and his ashes were scattered at the nearby cemetery. Harry never married and was estranged from his family in Tasmania for most of his adult life, but he was never forgotten. Lest we forget.