THE PRO PATRIA PROJECT

BARRETT Henry Kokoro

25813, Corporal, 28 (Maori) Battalion, WW2

CITATION

Distinguished Conduct Medal

Gazetted 4 April 1944, Supp 36456, p1588

During the attack at Pascussio Ridge, Italy, on 7 December 1943 Corporal Barrett’s platoon was held up by heavy machine-gun fire from the top of an escarpment 400 yards from the objective.  Leading his section, Corporal Barrett climbed hand over hand to the top and personally dealt with the first light machine-gun post.  His section under his leadership cleared two more machine-gun posts and then with fixed bayonets charged the remaining enemy and gained their objective astride the Orsogna-Ortona Road.  While reorganizing, his platoon came under heavy fire from a house some 400 yards away.  Corporal Barrett with six men rushed the house and destroyed that post also.  In subsequent counter-attacks Corporal Barrett showed the same vigorous aggressiveness which had been such a high inspiration to his whole platoon as an example of courage and devotion to duty

KNOWN AWARDS

Distinguished Conduct Medal

1939-45 Star

Africa Star

       8th Army

Italy Star

Defence Medal

War Medal 1939-45

New Zealand War Service Medal

NOTES

Born 2 October 1911, Temuka, New Zealand

Died