The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (207) Sergeant Harold Albon Barry, 9th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Richard Cruise, the story for this day was on (207) Sergeant Harold Albon Barry, 9th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

207 Sergeant Harold Albon Barry, 9th Battalion, AIF
DOW: 4 July 1916
Photograph: No photograph in collection

Story delivered 13 February 2016

Today we remember and pay tribute to Sergeant Harold Albon Barry.

Harold Barry was born in 1888 in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, the first of seven children of Richard and Florence Barry. He grew up in Sydney and was a keen sportsman. He played rugby for Glebe and cricket for the Petersham District Cricket Club. He moved to Queensland as a young man and continued to play rugby, this time for North Brisbane. At six feet tall with a powerful build, he was a formidable forward.

After leaving school, Barry became a tailor and was working in this role when the First World War began. He enlisted in Brisbane on 26 August 1914, and was one of the earliest enlistees in the newly raised 9th Battalion. After a brief period of training, Barry, now a lance corporal, embarked that September for service abroad with the 9th Battalion on the transport ship Omrah.

The battalion disembarked in Egypt in December, and after helping set up Mena Camp the men continued training, while exploring Cairo and its surrounds. In early March 1916 the 3rd Brigade, of which the 9th Battalion was part, sailed to Lemnos in preparation for the Gallipoli campaign.

Barry was among the first wave of men ashore on Gallipoli in the pre–dawn hours of 25 April. Several hard weeks of fighting followed, and the 9th Battalion was involved in holding off a major Ottoman counter–attack in May. Barry was promoted to corporal in July, and just over two weeks later was made sergeant.

Like many Australians on Gallipoli, Barry developed dysentery and was evacuated to Malta in September. His condition did not improve and he was sent back to Egypt for recovery. Re-joining his battalion in Egypt in March 1916, Barry sailed with it to France. The battalion was sent to the Armentières or “nursery” sector, and went into the front line for the first time in May.

In June a raiding party was organised by Captain Maurice Wilder Neligan for an attack on German positions at the Sugarloaf. Barry was one of those who volunteered for the raid. Towards midnight on 1 July the raiders set out, split into three parties. As Barry’s party reached the German parapet he was shot, and fell into the German forward trench.

The raid lasted a matter of minutes, and when the signal to retire was given the Australians withdrew. Attempts were made to rescue Barry and another man, but the German counter–attack drove the Australians back, forcing them to leave several of their men behind.

Barry was recovered by the Germans. His wound was serious, however, and he died on 4 July. He was 28 years old. His remains were never recovered, and his name was added to the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial to the Missing.

His is also commemorated on the Roll of Honour on my right, among more than 60,000 Australians who died while serving in the First World War.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Sergeant Harold Albon Barry, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Michael Kelly
Historian, Military History Section