Nicholas BARRY

Regimental number3714
Place of birthKilrush, Co Clare, Ireland
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationLabourer
Address22 Hopkins Street, Boulder, Western Australia
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation26
Height5' 5.25"
Weight158 lbs
Next of kinFather, T Barry, Lissyneaton, Co Clare, Ireland
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date30 August 1915
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll30 August 1915
Place of enlistmentBlackboy Hill, Western Australia
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name11th Battalion, 12th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/28/3
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Fremantle, Western Australia, on board RMS Mongolia on 22 November 1915
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll11th Battalion
FateDischarged 26 October 1919
Discharge date26 October 1919
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Joined 11th Bn, Habieta, 2 March 1916. admitted to 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station, Serapeum, 24 March 1916 (gonorrhoea); transferred to 1st Australian Stationary Hospital, Ismailia, 25 March 1916; to 1st Australian Dermatalogical Hospital, Abbassia, 25 March 1916; discharged to duty, 10 April 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 29 May 1916.

Wounded in action, 22 July 1916 (shell shock), and admitted to 2nd Field Ambulance, 24 July 1916, and transferred same day to 3rd Casualty Clearing Station; to No 1 Australian General Hospital, Rouen, 27 July 1916; to Convalescent Depot, 30 July 1916; to 4th Australian Division Base Depot, 30 July 1916; rejoined Bn, 25 August 1916.

Admitted to 3rd Field Ambulance, 15 April 1917 (influenza); transferred to 5th Division Rest Station, 28 April 1917; rejoined Bn, 1 May 1917.

On leave to United Kingdom, 25 February 1917; date of rejoining unit not recorded.

Admitted to 3rd Field Ambulance, 2 October 1918 (sprained ankle; accidental; recreational training); discharged to duty, 6 October 1918; rejoined Bn, 6 October 1918.

Admitted to 2nd Field Ambulance, 13 February 1919 (chancre); transferred to 55th Casualty Clearing Station, 15 February 1919; to Ambulance Train No 12, and transferred to 8th Stationary Hospital, 17 February 1919; discharged, 24 February 1919; total period of treatment for venereal disease: 12 days.

Marched out to United Kingdom for return to Australia, 27 March 1919.

Admitted to 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital, Bulford, 30 April 1919; discharged to Training Depot, Parkhouse, 15 June 1919.

Brother, Michael Barry, wrote to him, 14 May 1919: 'In consequence of my health being so much impaired for the past three years& I now understand you are to be released from the Army, I would forever feel grateful to your Superior Officers if they sent you on to me to work my farm for me. If they are kind enough to do so I hereby guarantee to give you constant employment & good wages for the time to come.' Pte Barry applied for discharge in the United Kingdom, 24 June 1919 (having previously applied, December 1918, and then withdrawn the request himself). Marched in to No 1 Group, Longbridge Deverill, 25 June 1919.

Married Bridget FLANAGAN, spinster, age: 'Full', in Church of Bealah Catholic Church, Kilkee, 9 August 1917.

Wife (signed 'Delia) wrote to 'My dear husband', 30 July 1919: ' ? I think they have treated me very good but I hope to God you will get out of them very soon for indeed in such a place as that I can understand that you haven't much pleasure in you[r] time there. If you were getting enough [food?] it would be half the battle. My God help anyone under there [sic] power the dirty crowd ? Well dear about that last letter you sent me it vexed the living life out of me because I am tormented enough without you coming at me but I am going to forgive you for that letter there is no use in fighting it is no good ? '

Discharged in England, 26 October 1919. Total war service: 4 years 58 days (of which 3 years 187 days were abroad)

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, BARRY Nicholas