Letters and newspaper clipping relating to the death of Douglas Barrett-Lennard, 1915 - Part 1

[*May God grant you all strength to receive the news of 
your loving son & the best friend of his heart broken pal  
Love D. Cusack*] 
P.S. He was buried yesterday evening 
& is resting in peace. I will look  
after his grave. His things 
will be sent home  Lon    
  
July 18th 1915. 
My dear Mrs Lennard 
It is my painful task & it is 
with regret & deepest sympathy that I 
have to inform you of poor Douglas's death. 
He died of wounds yesterday evening caused 
by a shell bursting in the gun pit of the 
gun that he was on.  He was acting No 2 
on the seat & a mate on No. 3 seat was also 
killed & his sergeant wounded. It has 
been a terrible blow to the battery as poor 
little Doug was a favourite with everyone 
& proved himself to be one of the bravest 
of the brave in the battery. It was his 
determination, pluck & originality that won 
such admiration from his comrades. I was sent 
for as soon as it happened from my gun & 
was with him then until the last. His left 
arm & leg were both broken & I think shock 
caused him to go off easier. He was unconscious 
the last hour or so & it was only his determination 
& grand constitution that kept him alive so long. 
His last words "Tell them at home Loni that I 
died bravely fighting on my gun'-

Copy 
July 18th 1915. 
To 
6.C. 8th Battery 
This is to report on the heroic  
conduct of the late Driver D.R. Lennard 
under painful & pathetic conditions after 
being wounded by the evening's  shell 
on the 17th inst. 
Lennard was serving the Gun (being No 2) 
where he was wounded, and although he 
seemed to fully realise the seriousness 
of his own wounds, he asked that others 
be attended to first, remarking- 
"Look after the Sergeant Sir, I'm 
alright" and afterwards continued to show 
wonderful pluck & fortitude. One of his 
many remark was (and this was characteristic  
of others)  "Well lads, I'm gone. I feel 
myself sinking - but by God you see I'm 
dying hard". 
Considering Sir, that such bravery 
should come from a boy of 20 years of age 
P.T.O.

and bearing in mind the painful 
nature of his injuries - I feel that 
I should be failing in my duty 
if I neglected to place these 
facts before you 
P.M. Edwards Lt 
Right section Commander.

20 July 1915 
Geo. Barrett Lennard Esq. 
"St Leonards"  
Guildford W.A. 

Dear Mr Lennard 
It is with feelings of extreme 
sympathy that I find it my painful 
duty to inform you that your son 
Douglas Barrett-Lennard was killed on 17^th 
inst whilst serving at his gun in action. 
He bore his wounds with great 
fortitude & died in a very gallant & 
unselfish manner. 
The officers - Non commissioned officers 
& men of my Battery join me in conveying 
to you & your family their heartfelt 
condolences on the death of our gallant 
comrade. His death will be a great 
& distinct loss to the Battery as he 
proved himself an efficient & very 
gallant soldier & had he survived

2 
would certainly have received 
recognition of his many good 
qualities. 
It is men of his stamp who 
are today unholding the glorious 
traditions of the British Army. 
Please accept my sincere 
sympathy in your sad bereavement. 
A.J Besell-Browne 
Major 
Commanding 8th Battery 
  
P.S. I attach a copy of the 
official report of his officer which 
I am sure you will be pleased to 
receive. It speaks for itself. 

July 22nd 1915 
Dear Mr Lennard 
I deeply regret that your son 
Douglas died here last Sunday night after 
being most grievously wounded while 
serving his Gun in action. 
I deeply deplore his loss to this 
force & I sympathize with you & yours 
from my heart in your great sorrow. May 
I however offer you some consolation where 
I tell you that the lad had nobly done 
his duty from the time he joined the 
Battery until he died - he was wounded 
gallantly fighting his Gun against a very 
severe shell fire by the Enemy & when 
taken away by loving comrades his first 
thought was for his wounded companions - 
whom he asked should be attended to before 
him. 
He bore his terrible sufferings with heroic 
courage & fortitude, was clear & conscious to  
the last & gave his final message to 
those he loved so well, calmly & fearlessly. 
he set an example for gallantry self 
sacrifice & fortitude which I cannot think 
can be supposed & which will be 

2 
handed down in his famous Battery 
for many a long year to come. 
His loss is not in vain - he has 
nobly served his Country & done all 
that a man can do - died a brave & 
glorious death for it. His loss is 
deeply mourned by the very large 
number of sincere friends he had made 
in the service & especially in the 
Battery he loved & served so well. 
Yours sincerely, 
J.T. Hobbs. Colonel. 
Commanding Divisional 
Artillery 
1st. Aust Btn.