The AIF Project

Edmund Joseph BARAGRY

Regimental number2125
Place of birthDelegate, New South Wales
SchoolPublic School, Delegate, New South Wales
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationLabourer
AddressAdaminaby, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation21
Height5' 8"
Weight156 lbs
Next of kinFather, Denis Joseph Baragry, Adaminaby, New South Wales
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date6 January 1916
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll6 January 1916
Place of enlistmentDelegate, New South Wales
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name55th Battalion, 4th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/72/3
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A15 Port Sydney on 4 September 1916
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll55th Battalion
Other details from Roll of Honour CircularTried to enlist in the "Snowy River Route March", 1 January 1916. Had previously lost one eye but concealed the fact.
FateKilled in Action 9 May 1917
Place of death or woundingnr Bullecourt, France
Date of death9 May 1917
Age at death22.4
Age at death from cemetery records22
Place of burialNo known Grave
Commemoration detailsAustralian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France

Villers-Bretonneux is a village about 15 km east of Amiens. The Memorial stands on the high ground ('Hill 104') behind the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery, Fouilloy, which is about 2 km north of Villers-Bretonneux on the east side of the road to Fouilloy.

The Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux is approached through the Military Cemetery, at the end of which is an open grass lawn which leads into a three-sided court. The two pavilions on the left and right are linked by the north and south walls to the back (east) wall, from which rises the focal point of the Memorial, a 105 foot tall tower, of fine ashlar. A staircase leads to an observation platform, 64 feet above the ground, from which further staircases lead to an observation room. This room contains a circular stone tablet with bronze pointers indicating the Somme villages whose names have become synonymous with battles of the Great War; other battle fields in France and Belgium in which Australians fought; and far beyond, Gallipoli and Canberra.

On the three walls, which are faced with Portland stone, are the names of 10,885 Australians who were killed in France and who have no known grave. The 'blocking course' above them bears the names of the Australian Battle Honours.

After the war an appeal in Australia raised £22,700, of which £12,500 came from Victorian school children, with the request that the majority of the funds be used to build a new school in Villers-Bretonneux. The boys' school opened in May 1927, and contains an inscription stating that the school was the gift of Victorian schoolchildren, twelve hundred of whose fathers are buried in the Villers-Bretonneux cemetery, with the names of many more recorded on the Memorial. Villers-Bretonneux is now twinned with Robinvale, Victoria, which has in its main square a memorial to the links between the two towns.

Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: Denis Joseph and Ada Mary Baragry, Adaminaby, New South Wales. Born at Delegate, New South Wales
Family/military connectionsBrother: William F BARAGRY died of pneumonia in Goulburn Camp a few days before he was due to embark for service overseas.
Other details

War service: Western Front

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, BARAGRY Edmund Joseph

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