SAPPER PERCIVAL GREGORY BARRY
5344 – 6th Battalion / Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company
John Joseph and Susannah (nee Tulk) Barry had the following children: Sarah Josephine (1880), Thomas Francis (1881), Mary Ellen (1883), Michael Purcell (1885), John Joseph (1887), Richard (1888), Patrick Cecil (1890), Clement Ignatius (1892), Susannah Frances (1893), Percival Gregory (1897) and Henry Theophilis (1899). Five of their sons would apply to enlist for active service abroad.
Percival Gregory Barry was born on November 17, 1897 in Preston, Victoria. He was a twenty-year old farm labourer when he applied to enlist for active service on February 11, 1916 at Prahran, Melbourne and passed the Medical Examination. Forms of Attestation were completed giving his description on enlistment as 165cms (5ft 5ins) tall, weighing 56.8kgs (125lbs) with a chest expansion of 84-92cms (33-36ins). Complexion was fresh with blue eyes and black hair. Distinctive marks were five vaccination scars on his right arm and one on his right shin and a mole on the inner back of his right thigh. Roman Catholic was his religious faith. Next-of-kin was his father Mr John Joseph Barry of Bacchus Marsh, Victoria. He signed and took the ‘Oath of Enlistment’ the same day.
Basic training commenced on March 15, 1916 with the 16th Depot Battalion in Bendigo, Vic until March 31 when transferred to the 17th Reinforcement to the 6th Battalion. His regimental number was 5344 in the rank of Private.
The Reinforcement departed on transport HMAT A14 Euripides from Melbourne, Vic on April 4, 1916 and also on board was eighty members reinforcing the Tunnelling Companies in France. During their voyage a port of call for refuelling was Colombo, Ceylon and terminated at the Suez about May 5. The Tunnellers’ Reinforcements were transhipped at Alexandria to the City of Edinburgh and disembarked at Marseilles, France on May 17, 1916. On June 1, 1916 they marched into Etaples and taken on strength on June 23, 1916.
Private Barry marched into Tel-el-Kebir on May 27, 1916 and embarked on the transport Tunisian at Alexandria to join the 1st Division three days later.
Acknowledgement to the recent volunteers’ list in his home town was published in the local newspaper:
On June 7, 1916 he was taken on strength with the 1st Aust Base Depot at Etaples but on June 23 he was sent to the 24th General Hospital and admitted with German measles and rejoined the Depot on July 3, 1916.
He proceeded to join his unit on July 28 and taken on strength two days later. Private Barry was attached to the 1st Canadian Tunnelling Company for pay, rations and discipline and was struck off strength from on October 16, 1916.
Further acknowledgement to the volunteers of his family was published in the:
A transfer to the Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company was issued on March 1, 1917 and Sapper Barry was taken on strength from March 10 from the 6th Battalion.
He was wounded in action on September 6, 1917 from a gas shell attack and taken to the 49th Field Ambulance then moved to the 1st Aust Casualty Clearing Station. From there was conveyed by Ambulance Train to the 7th Canadian Hospital at Etaples for treatment of the effects of gas poisoning.
Base Records notified his father on September 14, 1917 that he had been gassed and hospitalised. On September 27 was admitted to the 6th Convalescent Depot and on October 1 moved to Tronville to the 13th Command Depot.
On November 7 entered the A.G.B.D. and rejoined his unit in the field on November 18, 1917.
The following article appeared in the:
For twelve months service abroad he was issued with Blue Chevrons to wear on his uniform.
News of him appeared in the:
Leave was granted and he proceeded on February 24 and returned on March 10, 1918.
Percy Barry was mentioned in a letter home published in:
Service continued until July 29, 1918 when admitted to the 8th C.C.S. with Impetigo and was discharged to duty on August 1. Suffering Influenza saw him admitted to the 12th Stationary Hospital on November 8, 1918 and was still a patient when Peace was declared. He rejoined his Unit on November 20, 1918.
His unit remained in service on the front and he proceeded on leave to Paris on December 3 and rejoined on December 12, 1918. Further leave was granted from France on January 10 to January 24, 1919.
After crossing the English Channel on April 29, 1919 he marched in from France to the Reserve Brigade Aust Artillery camp to await his voyage home.
Sapper Percy Barry embarked for home on the H.T. Ormonde on June 16, 1919. His father was advised by Base Records on July 16 that he was on his way. The ship docked in Melbourne, Vic (3rd M.D.) on August 1, 1919.
Military Discharge was issued in Melbourne, (3rd M.D.) on September 15, 1919 on termination of his period of enlistment.
He returned to Grant Street, Bacchus Marsh, Vic and married Lilian May Peterson the same year.
For serving his country the British War Medal (39274) and the Victory Medal (38806) were issued to Private / Sapper 5344 Percival Gregory Barry, 6th Battalion / Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company.
These medals were not collected from the designated Barracks and returned to Base Records on May 10, 1923. A letter was sent care of his father on July 14 and both medals were receipted by him at Clyde, Vic on August 3, 1923.
He was a farmer was Cardward, at Clyde North, Vic in 1924. They moved to High Street, Lancefield where he was a hairdresser in 1931.
A Statement of Service was sent to the Melbourne Branch of the Repatriation Department on September 25, 1939.
A letter was written from 56 Tennyson Street, East St Kilda, Vic on January 10, 1940 after being instructed by Anzac House to write for his files. An undated letter went to Base Records stating he was in bad health and out of work and deemed it a favour if they could let him know where the records were being sent as he wanted to approach the Repatriation Department. They replied six days later that his medical documents had been forwarded on September 25, 1939 to the Department.
In August, 1940 he requested a copy of his original Discharge as he needed it as evidence of identification. He declared at St Kilda, Vic on August 24, 1940 that due to shifting residence many times was unable to locate his Military Discharge requiring this application for a duplicate Discharge. He was advised by mail on September 5, 1940 that this Certificate been lodged with the Officer-in-Charge at the District Records Office Southern Command, Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, Vic for delivery to him.
The following news appeared in:
On April 17, 1944 he wrote to Base Records about his Discharge from the A.I.F. He mentioned that their officer had duly notified him and he duly had not collected it. He was applying for a job with Commonwealth Services and must produce his Discharge. Records forwarded a copy dated April 21, 1944.
From 1958 to 1963 they are recorded at Edward Street, Belgrave and his occupation was hairdresser.
Percival Gregory Barry died in 1972 at Maclean, Victoria aged about 75 years.
PRIVATE RICHARD KEVIN BARRY
5649 – 14th Battalion
Richard Kevin Barry was working as a labourer at Maddingley, Victoria in 1914 and later enlisted at Prahran, Vic on March 7, 1916. Passing the medical examination his Attestation Forms reveal he was born at Preston, Vic and twenty-six years of age standing168cms (5ft 6ins) tall, weighed 69.5kgs (153lbs) with a chest expansion of 89-97cms (35-38ins). Complexion was dark with brown eyes and black hair. Distinctive marks were three vaccination scars and a scar on his left elbow, right buttock, the back of his neck and two on his upper arm. Two moles were on his right shoulder blade and a wart on the left shoulder blade. Roman Catholic was his religion. Next-of-kin was his father John Joseph Barry of Bacchus Marsh, Vic. He was sworn in the same day.
Basic training commenced with the 19th Depot Battalion at Geelong, Vic from March 16, 1916 until April 1 when he was transferred to Broadmeadows camp and assigned to the 18th Reinforcements to the 14th Battalion. His rank was Private with the regimental number 5649.
The Reinforcements embarked from Melbourne, Vic on May 4, 1916 on HMAT A17 Port Lincoln with the voyage terminating at Alexandria. On August 6, 1916 Private Barry departed on Megantic to join the B.E.F. in France and began training at the 4th Training Brigade camp at Rollestone on September 21, 1916
On December 4, 1916 the Reinforcement sailed from Folkstone on the Princess Victoria and arrived at the A.G.B.D in Etaples the following day. On December 22 he proceeded to join the 14th Battalion.
Private Barry was wounded in action on January 27, 1917 but remained on duty. His father was informed on February 15 of his casualty by Base Records. He was also treated for Influenza and scabies during his service.
For the return voyage home he departed on the H.T. City of Exeter on January 15, 1919 and arrived in Melbourne, Vic (3rd M.D.) on March 2, 1919.
Military Discharge was issued in Melbourne, Vic (3rd M.D.) on April 9 and is recorded at Maddingley, Vic later that year.
For service for his country Private 5344 Richard Kevin Barry was issued with the British War Medal (41439) and the Victory Medal (40539).
Richard Kevin Barry died after discharge on February 3, 1922 at Broadmarsh, Vic. His mother Susannah Barry received the Memorial Scroll (140/309003) and the Memorial Plaque (140/309003) in April 1923 in honour of his service.
PRIVATE PATRICK CECIL BARRY
7198 – 14th Battalion
In 1914 Patrick Barry worked as a barman at the Bridge Inn in Bacchus Marsh, Vic and later as a miner in Tasmania.
At the recruiting depot in Gormanston, Tasmania on October 5, 1916 Patrick Cecil Barry applied to enlist for overseas service. With the medical examination passed for the twenty-six year old Forms of Attestation were completed describing him as 160cms (5ft 3ins) tall, weighing 63.6kgs (140lbs) with a chest measurement of 69cms (27ins). Dark was his complexion with brown eyes and had dark brown hair. A mark of distinction was a scar on his upper lip and a broken nose. Religious faith was Roman Catholic. Next-of-kin was his father Mr John Joseph Barry of Bacchus Marsh, Vic.
Patrick married in Tasmania in 1916 to Charlotte McGinn and she became his next-of-kin residing at 546 La Trobe Street, Melbourne, Vic.
Private Barry trained with the 12th Battalion from December 14, 1916 at Claremont, Tasmania and transferred to the 1st Depot Battalion at Royal Park from January 6, 1917 to January 17 before allotted to the 25th Reinforcement to the 14th Battalion until February 19, 1917.
His rank was Private with the Regimental number 7198. The Reinforcement embarked from Melbourne, Vic on February 19, 1917 on HMAT A70 Ballarat. The ship was attacked by a submarine and abandoned at sea and their voyage resumed on another ship arriving at Devonport, England on April 25, 1917. The troops were transferred to 4th Training Depot at Codford a day later.
An extract of Private Barry’s letter home describing the voyage was published in:
The men proceeded from Southampton to France on August 20, 1917 to the A.G.B.D. in Havre and he was taken on strength with the 14th Battalion on September 3, 1917.
He was wounded in action (1st occasion) on September 26, 1917 receiving a gunshot wound to his chin.
On February 2, 1918 was wounded (2nd occasion) after being gassed. A brief mention appeared in:
Wounded in action (3rd occasion) took place on May 31, 1918 when he suffered a gunshot wound to his left arm and shoulder. This casualty was also reported in the newspaper:
After Armistice was declared he also suffered Inflammation of connective tissues of the buttocks on December 29, 1918.
Private Barry was invalided home on the H.T. Shropshire on March 1, 1919 and his wife advised by Base Records on April 23 that he was on his way home. He disembarked in Tasmania (6th M.D.) on May 16, 1919. Discharge from the Military as medically unfit was issued on July 5, 1919 from Melbourne, Vic.
Later that year he was a newsagent residing with his wife at 469 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, Melbourne, Vic.
The British War Medal (64164) and the Victory Medal (62005) were issued to Private 7198 Patrick Cecil Barry, 14th Battalion for serving his country.
These were not collected at the designated Barracks and returned to Base Records on May 10, 1923. On July 14 a letter was sent care of his parents at the Evelyn Hotel, Bacchus Marsh who advised 469 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy was his address and he collected them from the Records Office counter on September 11, 1923.
He is recorded as a newsagent to 1924 and in 1931 they were residing at Park Street, Bacchus Marsh where he worked as a labourer. From 1936 onwards their home was at Vallence Street, Bacchus Marsh with the occupation of labourer.
On October 1, 1954 both his war medals were returned to Base Records and taken on charge.
Patrick Cecil Barry died in 1961 aged 71 years at Bacchus Marsh, Victoria.
PRIVATE HENRY THEOPHILUS BARRY
16823 – 22nd Battalion
Henry Theophilus Barry was born on April 6, 1899 at Preston, Victoria. Military experience was gained by service with the Victorian Citizens’ Forces, 56th Infantry for twelve months and a prior to that with the senior Cadets (No. 56A Region Footscray) for four years.
The following results were published in:
He was a telegraphist with the Post Office and consent was given by his employer and his parents to enlist for service abroad as he was only eighteen years of age.