Souvenir button featuring Sgt. Barrett's Gallipoli Concert Party 1917

James Robert Barrett enlisted as a corporal with the 9th Australian Light Horse Regiment, A Squadron on 16 September 1914 with service number 85.
He embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A26 Armadale on 12 February 1915.
He served in the Middle East including Gallipoli and was wounded at least twice, once receiving a broken arm and a second time receiving a shell wound to the groin. He also appears to have succumbed to illness (as did many at Gallipoli). Due to the mental and physical impact of the injuries and illness he was declared medically unfit and was returned to Australia on 11 March 1916 on medical grounds. He had attained the rank of Sergeant.
He formed and led an entertainment troupe of returned wounded soldiers which toured around Australia performing songs, recitations, sketches and humorous items, possibly raising funds for the war effort. Those in the photo on the button may include Sergeant J.R. Barrett (baritone), Private J. Dillon (elocutionist), Sergeant C.H. Toovey (comedian), Private A. Hammond (orator), Sergeant Peter Molloy (tenor), Sergeant W.M. Harrell (elocutionist), Private E.R. Marchant (pianist), Private Ivan Spencer (tenor), and Private Shinfield (humorous elocutionist).
Concerts were held in both 1917 and 1918 in venues as far apart as Broken Hill in the far west of New South Wales and Victor Harbor in the south of South Australia.