Barrett, Frank

2000 - Pte Francis (Frank) William Joseph Barrett - 3rd Field Company Engineers

Francis William Joseph Barrett was born in Fremantle 3rd June 1882 to Francis and Annie Barrett. He had several siblings, with, William (1884), May (1886), Walter (1887), George (1889) and Amy (1891).

Sadly Franks mother died 1893 and his father then remarried

In 1895 he and his brother William sent to Rottnest reformatory for three and five years respectively.

After leaving the reformatory on Rottnest, Frank returned to Fremantle and secured a painting apprenticeship with Ashton and Badham for four years. The firm Ashton and Badham specialised in painting, decorating, signwriting and picture framing. They were based in Henry Street Fremantle.

Frank continued working for them after he completed his apprenticeship. He then moved up to Carnarvon to continue his work as a painter and carpenter.

On the 3rd October 1908 Frank married Daisy Helena Smith at Masonic Hall Carnarvon (photo below).

After the marriage they had a son Leslie born 1909 and they lived in Carnarvon for the next few years. In 1911 a daughter Edna was born in Subiaco and in 1913 a son Francis was born in Bunbury, followed in 1914 by a daughter Ellen born in Perth and then in 1915 Marjorie was born and then May in 1916.

Frank had tried to enlist early in the war but was knocked back dur to his height. However he tried again, and on the 3rd September 1915 Frank successfully enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was found to be fit for enlistment, with the medical officer recording his physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 3 inches tall;

Weight - 112 & 1/2 lbs;

Chest Measurement - 32-34 inches;

Complexion - Fresh;

Eyes - Blue;

Hair - Dark Brown.

After his successful enlistment Frank was sent to No.27 Depot Camp at Blackboy Hill where he was assigned to No.27 Training Depot. He was taken through the basics of infantry work at this depot and then on the 14th September 1915 was transferred into the 9th Reinforcements to the 3rd Field Company Engineers.

After training in WA Frank and the other engineer reinforcements were sent to Victoria to complete their training. On the 18th October 1915 Frank embarked from Port Melbourne aboard the transport ship HMAT Port Lincoln. The ship then set sail for Egypt, arriving there in November 1915. After being disembarked the men were sent to the AIF reinforcement camp.

The men would have been expecting to be sent to Gallipoli however plans were now underway to evacuate that battlefield and so Frank and the reinforcements were retained in Egypt. He was taken on strength of the 3rd Field Company Engineers in late December 1915.

He spent the next two months with the 3rd Field Company Engineers in Egypt. However in January 1916 he got into trouble for going absent without leave, using obscene language to a Non Commissioned Officer and also for striking the NCO. For going AWOL he was given 24 hours of Field Punishment No.2 and for the second incident he was given 21 days of Field Punishment No.1.

With the expansion of the Australian Imperial Force due to the number of reinforcements available, Frank found himself transferred to the 5th Division Engineers, but then was taken on strength of the 13th Field Company Engineers.

The 13th Field Company was part of the 13th Brigade and 4th Division AIF. Frank trained with this group in Egypt until the 6th June 1916 when they embarked for France.

After arriving at Marseilles on the 13th June 1916, the men were entrained north for the Armentieres region in Northern France. They only spent a few weeks in this region where they had their first experience of the Western Front. They were then transferred to the Somme battlefield.

In August 1916 Frank and the 13th Field Company arrived in the vicinity of Pozieres and they supported their infantry Brigade's actions around Mouquet Farm in August and September 1916. At Mouquet Farm on the 3rd September 1916 Frank was blown up by a shell, suffering shell shock and a strained back.

After receiving treatment at the Field Ambulance he was sent to the 2nd Australian General hospital at Wimereux. After a few days he was then shipped to England for further treatment and was admitted to Grantham Military Hospital.

Frank spent a month there and upon recovery was then sent to No.1 Command Depot Camp at Perham Downs. He remained in this camp for the next few months while he regained his fitness.

In February 1917 Frank was transferred to No.4 Command Depot Camp at Wareham and then the Engineers Training Depot at Brightlingsea. on the 1st March 1917 he then returned to France.

He spent five weeks at the Base Depot at Etaples but was then returned to England. His back injury was not improving so the medical authorities decided that he should return to Australia. On the 1st May 1917 Frank boarded the troopship HMAT Miltiades and returned to Australia, disembarking at Fremantle on the 24th June 1917.

Frank was discharged from the AIF on the 26th August 1917.

He then returned home and in 1918 a daughter Doris was born. The family were then living at 172 Attfield Street Fremantle.

Frank then moved to Mt Magnet where he lived till his death on the 19th December 1934 aged 53.

Frank was buried Mt Magnet cemetery.

(Photo of Frank Barrett courtesy of the family ancestry page)