Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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8244   Private David Barrett
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Dated added: 30/12/2015   Last updated: 30/12/2020
Personal Details
Regiment/Service: 1st Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (British Army)
Date Of Birth: 17/03/1989
Died: 09/08/1916 (Killed in Action)
Age: 30
Summary      
David Barrett was born in Shankill, Belfast. His pension record card gives his date of birth as 17th March 1889, but no GRONI record can be found to confirm this. David Barrett and Sarah Hawthorne were married on 9th July 1913 in Belfast. David enlisted in Dungannon, County Tyrone. Private David Barrett was serving with the 1st Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action as the result of a gas attack on the 9th August 1916.
Further Information
David Barrett was born in Shankill, Belfast. His pension record card gives his date of birth as 17th March 1889, but no GRONI record can be found to confirm this.
David Barrett and Sarah Hawthorne were married on 9th July 1913 in Belfast.
David Barrett enlisted in Dungannon, County Tyrone.
Private David Barrett landed in France with his unit on 4th September 1914.
Medal card
David’s wife, Sarah Barrett, lived at 22 Ashmore Street, Belfast. No GRONI records of children can be found.
Private David Barrett was serving with the 1st Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action as the result of a gas attack on the 9th August 1916.
Private David Barrett is buried in Potijze Chateau Wood Cemetery in France.
David Barrett's gravestone
David Barrett's gravestone
From the CWGC Potijze Chateau Wood Cemetery information:
On 9th August 1916, as the Somme offensive raged further south, the first and second battalions of the Hampshire Regiment spent ten days in trenches just east of the Chateau. As they were preparing to leave the Germans staged a surprise attack using a potent form of phosgene gas. Both units were caught unawares and although no ground was conceded the regiment suffered over 240 casualties, about half of whom were killed. The 1st Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers were stationed on the same stretch of front and also suffered numerous gas casualties. Over 60 men who fell in the attack are buried in rows A, E, and F of Chateau Wood Cemetery.
Private Barrett is buried beside another Dungannon man, William Charles Anderson, who was also serving with the 1st Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and who died the same day. It may be assumed he also died as the result of gas.
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Relevant Dungannon Area Locations
No Location Region Location Notes Longtitude Latitude
1 Dungannon area Dungannon Central Enlisted in Dungannon 54.508494 -6.774602
GRONI References
TYPE - B:Birth M:Marriage D:Death | GRONI | SIBLING: brother or sister | NOTES: spelling inconsistencies, etc.
Date Type Surname First name Relationship GRONI Ref Notes
09/07/1913 M Hawthorne Sarah Wife M/1913/B1/418/130/90
09/07/1913 M Barrett David Casualty M/1913/B1/418/130/90
References and Links
No Link Reference Map Doc
1 FindAGrave.com Photo of David Barrett's headstone
2 Forum discussion (GWF) Ypres Gas attack on 9th August 1916
3 National Archives UK Medal Card can be purchased here
4 Private William C Anderson Buried in next grave (F-3), also killed in gas attack
5 Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers - 1st Batt Private David Barrett, enlisted Dungannon
6 War Graves Photographic Project Photo of Private David Barrett's gravestone can be purchased here
7 Western Front Association Photo of pension record
Dungannon District's War Dead Acknowledgements 2015-2023