No.1885, Private, Bertie Charles BARKER
Aged 25
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Bertie Charles Barker was born in 1891 (3rd qtr 1891 Stow 4a:770) son of Frederic and Julia BARKER (née HUBBARD). This GRO
registration is NOT Rougham ( that would be Thingoe), but various official records have him as born in Rougham and some have Stowmarket.
The latter concurs with the registration.
1901 census...Aged 9, he was at 29 Miller's Lane, Rougham Green with his father Frederic BARKER [34]thrashing machine labourer; his mother Julia [35]; sisters Florence [11], Ethel [7], Maggie [4] and Sybil [1]. All were recorded as born in Rougham. 1911 census...Aged 19, a farm labourer, he was at Oak Lane, Rougham with his widower father; sisters Margaret Bertha, Sybil May and Violet Bessie [8]; brother Stanley John [4]. All shown as born in Rougham. The death of his mother has not been identified, it is possible she did actually did not die until 1929. (Julia BARKER aged 63 Bury St. Edmunds 1st qtr 1929 4a:1604) In 1918 it seems his sister Sybil, in Lambeth, was charged with the murder of her baby but found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 12 months in Holloway prison. |
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He enlisted in Bury St. Edmunds on 24th May 1909 and joined the York and Lancaster Regiment (No.9524) at Pontefract on 27th May. He gave his age as 18 years 1 month, born
in Stowmarket, a farm labourer. He was 5 feet 4.75 inches tall, weighed 120 lbs, chest 31 to 34 inches, hazel eyes, brown hair, Church of
England. His next of kin was his father Fred Barker of Oak Lane, Rougham. He was discharged as "Unlikely to become an efficient soldier"
on 3rd July 1909 after just 41 days service.
He enlisted on 10th January 1916 at Casula, New South Wales, giving his age as 24 years 7 months, born Rougham, Suffolk, a chauffeur, father Fred Barker of Oak Farm, Rougham. Posted to 20th Battalion on 8th February 1916, from which he was discharged on 23rd February 1916. He then enlisted again, on 30th March 1916, at Cootamumdra, this time giving his place of birth as Stowmarket, his age 23 years 9 months and occupation labourer. He was then 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighed 147 lbs, chest 38 to 40 inches, blue eyes, fair hair, Church of England. His address was Metropolitan Hotel, West Wyalong In the 2nd Reinforcements, 36th Battalion he sailed from Sydney for Plymouth on 4th September 1916, arriving 29th October and promptly admitted to PROVANT Hospital for observation due to swollen lymph glands. On November 16th a doctor wrote "This man has tubercular mischief in the glands of his neck. In my opinion he should be invalided out of the Army". Then on 20th December he sailed from Folkestone for France on the "Princess Victoria", and joined Base Depot at Etaples on 21st. He joined his unit, 36th Battalion on 18th January 1917 and was killed in action in Belgium on 7th June 1917. His personal possession of 2 wallets, postcards, photos and a photo in locket were sent to his father at Oak Farm, Rougham. 7th June 1917 was the Battalion's first major battle, at Messines Ridge. They met with heavy gas at Ploegsteert Wood, but managed to reach Prowse Point. CWGC records 35 of the Battalion killed that day
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
