9th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (British Army)
Date Of Birth:
27/11/1892
Died:
13/08/1917 (Died of Wounds)
Age:
24
Summary
William John Barrett was the son of John and Elizabeth Barrett. William was born on 27th November 1892. He was one of nine children, all born in the Fivemiletown area. The 1901 census records William as 8 years old, living with the family at Aghinlark, Cole, Tyrone. John’s father was a labourer. By the 1911 census William was 18 and single. He had left home and was working as a servant for the Cowan family at Mullaghmore, Fivemiletown, Tyrone. Private William John Barrett was serving with the 9th battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he died of wounds on 13th August 1917.
Mendinghem Military Cemetery is located 17 Kms north-west of Ieper town centre on the N308 connecting Ieper to Poperinge and on to Oost-Cappel. From Ieper town centre the Poperingseweg (N308), is reached via Elverdingsestraat then directly over two small roundabouts in the J. Capronstraat. The Poperingseweg is a continuation of the J. Capronstraat and begins after a prominent railway level crossing. On reaching the ring road of Poperinge R33 Europalaan, the left hand clockwise route circles the town of Poperinge and rejoins the N308 towards Oost-Cappel. 6.5 Kms after joining the N308 lies the village of Proven. The cemetery is located 500 metres beyond the village of Proven on the left hand side of the road (which at this point is called Roesbruggestraat).