Honour Avenue Group - Dedication Ceremony

On Saturday 14th December 2024, the Honour Avenue Group of Kings Park conducted a dedication ceremony for eight new plaques to be added to the Honour Avenues within Kings Park.

During the ceremony the serviceman's plaque is presented to family by the Chairman of the Honour Avenues Group and the Executive Director of the Botanic Gardens & Parks Authority of Kings Park. During the presentation each soldiers biography is read out.?

At the completion of the ceremony family members are escorted to the location where the individual plaques are placed on the Honour Avenues, never to be forgotten.

The following serviceman were dedicated:

• Private Geoffrey Wilfred BORDONI 2/1 Australian Guard Regiment. K.I.A. 07.05.1945. Cape Wom New Guinea Aged 34 years.
• Flying Officer Archie Campbell SWAN RAAF att 620 Squadron RAF. K.I.A. 08.05.1944. Poissons France Aged 30 years.
• Private Clarence John DOUST 53 Battalion. K.I.A. 19.10.1917 Zonnebeke Belgium Aged 21 years.
• Private John LITHGOW 16 Infantry Battalion. K.I.A. 13.04.1945 New Britain Aged 34 years.
• Driver Douglas Barrett-LENNARD 8 Battery 3 Aust Field Artillery Brigade. K.I.A. 17.07.1915 Gallipoli Turkey Aged 21 years.
• Lance Corporal Austin FERGUSON 11 Battalion. D.O.W. 21.09.1917 1st Australian Field Ambulance Dickebusch Aged 28 years.
• Lieutenant Horace William ARMSTRONG 157 General Transport Company. K.O.S. 07.09.1944 Mossman Queensland Aged 33 years.
• Corporal Joseph HARDY 28 Battalion. K.I.A. 29.07.1916. Pozieres France Aged 23 years.

Biography of one of the fallen.

Douglas Barrett-Lennard was born 27th May 1894 at St Leonard’s near Guildford, Western Australia to parents George Barrett-Lennard and Amy Brockman who were married in 1886 at Upper Swan.

There were eight siblings from the marriage.

Douglas attended Guildford Grammar School where he joined the school cadets. On leaving school he worked as a farmhand.

Enlisting into the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) in September 1914 he was attached to the 3rd Field Artillery Brigade with the rank of driver.

In October 1914 Douglas embarked from Fremantle for Alexandria Egypt.

Arriving in Egypt he was assigned to the 8th Battery of the 3rd Field Artillery Brigade where he spent his time training in preparation for the Gallipoli campaign.

In April 1915 Douglas landed with his battery on the beaches of Gallipoli on the second day of the assault. However unsuitable grounds prevented the battery setting up its field guns.

Douglas with his battery returned to the Gallipoli beach in May 1915.

In a letter Douglas wrote to his mother giving details that he was exhausted and fatigued as they had been in action for ten straight days, under constant shellfire and suffering from heavy casualties.

It was on the 17th July 1915 that the battery had relocated to participate in a large artillery bombardment when late in the afternoon Douglas was manning his gun when a high explosive shell struck the shield of the gun and blew away its crew.

Douglas was servery wounded and it is recorded that he insisted the other men to be treated before him stating,

“I am alright – I’m done, but, by God, you see, I’m dying hard.” [1] succumbing to his wounds shortly after.

Driver Douglas Barrett-Lennard service number 1879 of 8th Battery of the 3rd Australian Field Artillery Brigade was killed in action on 17th July 1915 at Gallipoli. He was 21 years of age.

His commanding officer wrote to his parents telling them of his bravery, courage and popularity with his fellow soldiers and commanding officers alike.

He is buried at Shell Green Cemetery, Gallipoli, Turkey and is remembered with honour.

[1] Official History of Australia in the War of 1914-18. Vol II The Story of ANZAC. By CEW Bean. Pg 344?

?

?