Ronald Barrett (1921 - 1942)

Born 20 Mar 1921 in Footscray, Victoria, Australia

Ancestors

Died 1 Jul 1942 at age 21 in At Sea

Biography

Ronald Barrett was a Prisoner of War during World War II.

Ronald Barrett died as a prisoner of war on the Montevideo Maru during the Second World War.

Ronald was born in 1921 in Footscray, Melbourne, VIC, the son of John Barrett and Rosannah Williamson.

He enlisted in the Australian Army for overseas service on 10 Jun 1940 at Caulfield, VIC as a Private (VX23987). At the time he was single, a textile worker and was living with his mother at Maidstone, VIC. He had dark hair and brown eyes.

He was posted to 2/22nd Bn on 17 Jul 1940.

He entrained in Victoria on 10 Apr 1941 for Sydney where he embarked on the HMAT "Katoomba" for Rabaul, New Britain in the Territory of New Guinea, where he disembarked on 26 Apr 1941. His battalion was the core of "Lark Force", sent to protect the Territory.

After the Japanese invaded New Britain on 23 Jan 1942 he was captured at Lalawat and became a Prisoner of War. Japanese records show him with A Coy. He died on board the "Montevideo Maru" when it was torpedoed and sunk off the coast of the Philippines on 01 Jul 1942, en route from Rabaul to Hainan where he was destined for forced labour.

Sources

• WW2 Australian Army Service File - National Archives of Australia - BARRETT RONALD : Service Number - VX23987 : Date of birth - 20 Mar 1921 : Place of birth - FOOTSCRAY VIC : Place of enlistment - CAULFIELD VIC : Next of Kin - BARRETT ROSE - http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=6213966

• Roll of Honour - Australian War Memorial - https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1690609

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission - https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2615350/ronald-barrett/

• Virtual War Memorial Australia: https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/619174

• The Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial https://www.powmemorialballarat.com.au/prisoners-of-war/barrett-ronald/