Second Lieutenant Joseph Frank Barrett
- Rank
- Second Lieutenant
- Service number
- 1203
- Decorations
- Distinguished Conduct Medal
- Unit
- 51 Battalion
- Cause of death
- Killed in Action
- Place of death
- Villers Bretonneux, France
- Date of death
- 24 April 1918
- Age
- 24
- Plaque number
- MW64A
- Co-located plaques
- MW64 - PTE William Braun
- Dedicated by
- Grandson on 25 June 2005
- More information
Biography presented during plaque dedication:
Second Lieutenant Joseph Frank Barrett DCM of 44 Battalion was born in 1893 in Bunbury, one of three sons of Joseph and Elisabeth.
Joe took up the job of a timber hewer, living at Capel where he met his wife Emma.
He joined the Second Australian Stationary Hospital AIF in September 1914 at the age of 20 and undertook medical training at Perth Public Hospital and general army training at Blackboy Hill camp.
The unit left Fremantle for Egypt on the hospital ship 'Kyarra' and they spent some time at Gallipoli.
In March 1916, Joe joined 51 Battalion which had been recently formed and was sent to France.
In 1917, he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for 'conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty under fire'.
A comment by one of his fellow officers was that he was the most popular officer in the battalion.
He was killed in action at Villers Bretonneux on 24 April 1918, aged 24 years.