In the Great War, sergeant Ernie Barrett fought with the 4th Canadian Infantry Battalion, which he referred to as the “Mad Fourth.” Barrett saw action in many battles, including Ypres, Aubers Ridge, Mt. Sorrel, Hill 60, Regina Trench, Arras, Lens, Mount St. Eloi, Cambrai, and Vimy Ridge.

At Vimy Ridge, Barrett suffered many wounds from an shell explosion, which buried him in debris for eight hours. Despite shrapnel embedded into his back, he survived. While in a hospital in England, he met Lucy Mannering and they were married and moved back to Canada.

He returned to Hamilton, Ontario April 23rd, 1919 via the train from Halifax to Toronto, and on the S. S. Olympic ship that sailed from England April 15th 1919. On his return, Barrett took a position as a one of the first motorcycle Hamilton Policeman. He eventually, became a sergeant of detectives before working for the Hamilton-Wentworth Sheriff's department.

Barrett and his first wife had a daughter named Florence in England, but when his wife died during childbirth, he decided to send Florence to be raised by his mother in Canada until he returned from war. Barrett also had two sons, Claude and Albert.

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