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Title:	Battle of Messines: Exhibition panel commemorating William 'Billy' Barrett, born Tallaght
Authors:	Power, David Power, David
Keywords:	Battle of Messines
Issue Date:	2018
Description:	William Barrett was born on the 6th of May 1891 in Tallaght, the son of Christopher and Elizabeth Barrett. The Barrett family were publicans(Spirit Grocers) and their premises were in Tallaght Village in the building now known as the Dragon Inn. This is where the young William Barrett spent his early years. In 1909 his father, Christopher, died and the business was carried on by his then 57 year old widow until 1913, when the family moved to 48 Killeen Road in Rathmines. William Barrett joined the 9th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers who were part of the mostly Unionist 36th (Ulster) Division, training at Clandeboye, County Down. In July 1915 he moved with his battalion to Seaford, in Sussex, arriving in France on the 5th of October 1915. He managed to survive the devastation of the Somme where 5,000 men of the 36th Ulster Division were killed. The Inniskillings later moved to Belgium and were heavily involved in the fighting around Spanbroekmolen on the first day of the Battle of Messines, the 7th of June. He was killed on this day and his body was never found. He is commemorated on the Menin Gate in Ypres. William Barrett’s brother, George also joined the British Army, going to France on the 11th of November 1915 with the Gordon Highlanders. He survived the war, being discharged on the 3rd of April 1919.
URI:	https://hdl.handle.net/10599/12153
Copyright:	South Dublin Libraries
Appears in Collections:	Published Items World War I Exhibitions

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