Eric Garrett enlisted with his elder brother Claude in November 1915. Both were born in Inverell, NSW, but their family had moved to Toowoomba by the start of the war. Garrett was reported as playing soccer for Southern Rovers in 1912 and again in 1914, this time alongside Claude.
Garrett joined the 42nd Battalion, D Company but was transferred to the 52nd Battalion before arriving in France. He suffered a gunshot wound to the thigh in June 1917, leading to evacuation to England. He subsequently returned to Australia in November.
In 1918 Garrett’s name was added to the Toowoomba British Football Association honour board, but the newspaper report of the board erroneously listed him as killed. In fact, it was his brother Claude who had died in action in 1916.
Garrett married in 1919 and died 27 September 1969.