David BARNETT

Regimental number6767A
Place of birthLondon, England
ReligionJew
OccupationFarmer
AddressColac, Victoria
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation21
Height5' 1"
Weight129 lbs
Next of kinFriend, Mrs I.M. Hocking, Tower House, Gasworks, Colac, Victoria
Previous military serviceNil (exempt area under Compulsory Military Training scheme)
Enlistment date29 August 1917
Place of enlistmentColac, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name24th Battalion, 20th Reinforcements
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A71 Nestor on 21 November 1917
Regimental number from Nominal Roll6767
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll24th Battalion
FateReturned to Australia 5 June 1919
Miscellaneous details (Nominal Roll)Date of return to Australia incorrectly recorded on Nominal Roll as 4 June 1917.
Discharge date9 August 1919
Other details

Embarked Melbourne, 21 November 1917; disembarked Suez, 15 December 1917.

Embarked Suez, 8 January 1918; disembarked Southampton, 24 January 1918. Marched into 6th Training Bn, Fovant, 24 January 1918.

Soldier wrote to Base Records, 23 March 1918: 'I have just received a letter from my mother, stateing [sic] that she has been to Headquarters inquiring about my religion. The people I was living with in Australia was CofE and, I was ignorant to what religion I belong to, all I knew was that I was a Jew. so they advised me to go as a CofE. So would you please go into the matter and see that my religion is altered, as I have found my people over here while I was on my disembarkation leave.' File altered to record religion as 'Jew'.

Proceeded overseas to France, 15 April 1918; taken on strength, 24th Bn, in the field, 26 April 1918.

Admitted to 6th Australian Field Ambulance, 28 July 1918 (pyrexia, unknown origin), and transferred same day to 5th Casualty Clearing Station; to Ambulance Train, 31 July 1918, and admitted to 16th USA General Hospital, 1 August 1918 (trench fever); discharged to Convalescent Depot, Havre, 16 August 1918; rejoined unit, in the field, 12 september 1918.

Found guilty, 12 October 1918, of being absent without leave from 0900, 1 October, till apprehended at 0830, 7 October 1918: awarded 21 days' Field Punishment No 2, and forfeited a total of 37 days' pay.

Admitted to 5th australian Field Ambulance, 17 December 1918 (gastritis), and transferred same day to 41st Casualty Clearing Station; to Ambulance Train No 1, 22 December 1918, and admitted to 2nd General Hospital, Havre, 23 December 1918.

Marched out to England, 7 January 1919; marched into No 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, 8 January 1919.

Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Mahia', 5 June 1919; disembarked Melbourne, 17 July 1919; discharged, Melbourne, 9 August 1919.

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
Date of death3 September 1982
SourcesNAA: B2455, BARNETT David