Portrait of 1200097 Lance Corporal (L Cpl) James Joseph 'Jim' Barrett (left), and 1731075 Private ...

Portrait of 1200097 Lance Corporal (L Cpl) James Joseph 'Jim' Barrett (left), and 1731075 Private Edward William Williams, both of C Company, 6th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (6RAR). Formerly a member of the regular army with C Company 2RAR, L Cpl Barrett left Australia in early 1966 as a reinforcement to 1RAR, then on operations in Bien Hoa, South Vietnam. When 1RAR returned to Australia he completed the remainder of his 12 month tour of duty with C Company 6RAR. A popular soldier, he also took up the role of canteen manager. In January 1970 he returned to Vietnam with 8RAR. On 28 February 1970 during Operation Hammersley, L Cpl Barrett's platoon was involved in two mine incidents. An engineer party moving to neutralize a booby trap initiated an M16 mine, causing seven soldiers to be killed and thirteen wounded. While looking skyward to marshal a helicopter to evacuate the last casualties, L Cpl Barrett stepped just outside a cleared area, detonating a second mine. He was killed instantly, aged 24, and three others were wounded. One of the wounded later died.