David Barrett

David (Digger) William Barrett was born into the depression of the 1920s. He was brought up in Melbourne with the Second World War on the horizon. He and his friends were quick to volunteer for the 2nd AIF. It was by accident that he ended up as a medical orderly with the 2nd Field Ambulance of the 8th Division who went to fight the Japanese in Malaya and on Singapore Island but as a POW of the Japanese, this did not stop him performing the duties of a surgeon out of necessity. David went on to have a great business career and spent his retirement years successfully fighting for reparations for all POW of the Japanese. David was passionate about telling his intriguing story. He saw his book, Digger’s Story, co-written with Brian Robertson, in print and being delivered to the bookshops just before his death on 22 July 2012.