plh
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Posts: 9
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Post by plh on Nov 2, 2014 18:42:11 GMT
Trying to find more information on my Great Uncle. Information I have so far is Roll Number 276561, served in 2nd Battalion Manchester Regiment. Died on 19th August 1914 not sure exactly where but Western European Theatre. We have recently found his grave in France although not yet visited.
many thanks for any help!
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Post by shred on Nov 3, 2014 20:06:49 GMT
Hi PLH, Welcome to the forum. CWGC and SDGW both show that Walter was killed in 1918. From CWGC BARKER, W Rank:Lance Corporal Service No:276561 Date of Death:19/08/1918 Age:31 Regiment/Service:Manchester Regiment 2nd Bn. Grave Reference: V. G. 5. Cemetery:HEATH CEMETERY, HARBONNIERES SDGW Name: Walter Barker Death Date: 19 Aug 1918 Death Place: France and Flanders Enlistment Place: Manchester Rank: L Corporal Regiment: Manchester Regiment Battalion: 2nd Battalion Regimental Number: 276561 Type of Casualty: Killed in action Theatre of War: Western European Theatre Awarded the Victory and British War medals. Historical Information Harbonnieres was captured by French troops in the summer of 1916. It was retaken by the Germans on 27 April 1918, and regained by the Australian Corps on 8 August 1918. Heath Cemetery, so called from the wide expanse of open country on which it stands, was made after the Armistice, next to a French Military Cemetery, now removed. Graves were brought into it from the battlefields between Bray and Harbonnieres and from other burial grounds in the area. Read more
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Post by shred on Nov 3, 2014 20:10:42 GMT
The Salford Reporter printed an article about a Walter on the 07.09.1918. I will try and post a copy of the article soon.
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Post by prospectroad on Nov 4, 2014 9:27:32 GMT
From themanchesters.org website for 2nd Battalion in August:
18th moved to Harbonniere, brought up to strength by draft of 300 men, relieve an Australian battalion in the front line. 19th repulsed a German attack after heavy hand to hand fighting, 17 KIA, 27 wounded and 27 missing.
Regards Pete
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plh
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Post by plh on Nov 4, 2014 14:33:32 GMT
Thank you for your responses. My father was quite emotional reading about his Uncle. We have only recently started trying to find out about him and it is only a few weeks since we learnt about when he died and where his grave was. His age is in doubt though as my father has always said that Walter was underage when he enlisted. On the 1911 census Walter was 13 and still at school. Walter was one of 6 children, all born in Salford. 5 boys and 1 girl. Of those children , my father thinks his father, Stanley, Walter and Alfred Tennyson Barker all served in WW1, Stanley and Alf both survived.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2014 16:02:24 GMT
Originally i thought as Gary (Shred) did that the only Walter that matched was the one who died 1918 & not 1914, so dismissed it as you had a different date.
Anyway there is a medal card index for Alfred Tennison Barker. Address shown on the card: 621 Stretford road, Manchester. 1/7th Manchester Regt Serjent 9 Kings L'pool Regt Lieutenant Served Egypt April 1915
Other forum staff & members should be able to give you a better brake down of the medal card index? I think there is another medal card for this man?
Ben
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Post by prospectroad on Nov 4, 2014 17:07:57 GMT
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plh
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Post by plh on Nov 4, 2014 19:02:39 GMT
Apologies for the error on the date Walter died!
i didn't realise that there were photos of the graves at Heath Cemetery so thank you for that. It is only in the last few weeks that we learnt Walter Barker was buried there. We have a photo of his original grave but did not know its location or that he had since been moved.
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plh
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Post by plh on Nov 4, 2014 19:04:30 GMT
Haven't looked for Alfred Tennyson Barker much yet but I have found 2 Medal cards.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2014 19:09:32 GMT
Haven't looked for Alfred Tennyson Barker much yet but I have found 2 Medal cards. Yep he has two Ben
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Post by shred on Nov 5, 2014 20:49:56 GMT
Here is the article from the Salford Reporter.
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plh
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Post by plh on Nov 6, 2014 16:15:19 GMT
Oh my goodness, thank you. That is amazing. So Walter Barker's age was 21 not 31 when he died. He almost made it to the end of the war.
My Dad says his Grandfather was Mayor of Salford before WW1 so it makes sense he was still on the Council.
My father does say that it was Stanley Barker (his father) in the Motor Section, he was a Chauffeur before the war and was sent to France to act as a Driver for the Officers. One night he was ill and sent back to the hospital and that was the night his car received a direct hit, killing the replacement driver.
Alfred Tennyson Barker I think was in the Liverpool Regiment to start with. He went on to other things apparently, including the Black and Tans and then Palestine. My father says he knew Lawrence of Arabia but as I said earlier I haven't looked at hime much yet.
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Post by shred on Nov 6, 2014 21:26:47 GMT
I presume that the following is the same Alfred Tennyson Barker? Read more...
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plh
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Post by plh on Nov 8, 2014 15:54:07 GMT
Speechless! Yes that's him. We had no idea. Have got to find out more!!
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