BARKER, Harry Joseph William


No.27393, Private, Harry William BARKER
Aged 18


12th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment
Killed in Action on 3rd September 1918


Harry Joseph William BARKER was born in Bradfield St.George (1st qtr 1900 Thingoe 4a:910) son of Henry Harry and Harriett BARKER(née TOWNSEND)

1901 census...Aged 1, he was at Rougham Road, Bradfield St George with his father Henry BARKER [36] a labourer born Rougham; his mother Harriett [29]; sisters Sylvia [5] and Winifred [4]. All except his father were born in Bradfield St George

1911 census...Aged 11, he was still in Bradfield St.George with his parents and sisters Sylvia and Alexandra [9]

On a pension card the claimant is at Brougham Road, Bradfield St George, his sister is also recorded as Mrs S MOORE


He enlisted in
The battalion war diary for 4rd Sept 1918:-
At 1:30 am the OC "A"Coy reported that A and C Coys had proceeded along the Vierstraat-Wytschaete Road and met strong parties of the enemy on either side of the road at 28.N.11.d.9.3. Some casualties were suffered with M.G.fire. This altered the plans of the Battn, therefore A,C and D Coys occupied the Vierstraat Switch Line, B Coy were ordered to advnce down the Wytschaete Road as fsr as possible and then dig in , this was completed at dawn.
At 3pm G.O.C. 122 Bbde held a conference of Bn commander. The Bn received orders to attack the following morning. As this attack necessitated making good the lne of the main railway from 28.N.12.d.0.7 to 28.N.12.c.9 0. orders were issued at 6pm for A and B Coys to advsance, B on left and A on right, each covered by a fighting patrol. Verbal orders were issued for the attack to be delivered at 5:30 am on the 4th



The scene of the action..the orange stretch of the railway is the bit that they needed to fix.



photo CWGC

Harry Barker is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium panel 79-80

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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