Name
Charles Marcus Barker
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/11/1917
34
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Corporal
201484
Tank Corps
"G" Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CAMBRAI MEMORIAL, LOUVERVAL
Panel 13.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin, Hitchin British Boys' School Memorial, Hitchin
Pre War
Charles was born circa 1883 to parents William Thompson and Emily Hartshorn Barker (née Wilkins), who had married on 20 August 1872 at Christ Church, Battersea: Battersea Park Road, Wandsworth. William was a tailor by trade.
In 1891 they were living at 14 High Street, Hitchin where William senior plied his trade. They had 6 children present, plus a nephew Harold B Lawes aged 8 and a boarder, William Symonds who was working as a tailor. The children were: Emily Rose (17), William C (16) and a tailor’s apprentice, Frank T (14), Albert E (10), Charles M (8) and Hubert E (3).
The parents were at the same address in 1901, but many of the children were absent and listed were: Emily R and Herbert E., however 3 others were present all working as tailors for William
Sadly William (senior) died in September 1907.
By 1911 the family business still appears to be running, but now at 27 Nightingale Road, Hitchin. The mother Emily Hartshorn Barker was a widow but working as a tailor shop keeper, daughter Emily Rose was the manageress, Charles and Hubert Edward both listed as cutters and managers.
Before joining up Charles was in partnership with his brother and together they were recorded as running the tailoring business called W.T. Barker, and it is believed that Charles enlisted in April 1916 in order that his brother could keep the business running.
Charles was officially recorded as born, living and enlisting in Hitchin. His home was at Starling's Bridge in Hitchin and he was his parents fourth son.
Wartime Service
Charles was given the Regimental Number 38195 in the Machine Gun Corps and later he transferred to the Tank Corps and was given the Number 201484.
He was killed in action in France. This was in ‘G’ Battalion of the Tank Corps 1st Brigade which was supporting the 62nd Division of III Corps.
The 62nd Division infantry and ‘G’ Battalion 1st Brigade tanks operated at Havrincourt and captured Graincourt on the 20th November. Some tanks pushed on to Bourlon Wood and the Cambrai Road but the infantry were too exhausted to follow. On the 23rd November 1917 they attacked Bourlon village but failed to capture it.
He has no known grave, but is remembered on Panel 13 of the Cambrai Memorial to the Missing.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
