Name
SIDNEY WILLIAM BARKER
1889
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
02/11/1917
28
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
45608
Suffolk Regiment
1st/5th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
GAZA WAR CEMETERY
VIII. F. 1.
Israel and Palestine (including Gaza)
Headstone Inscription
"REST IN PEACE"
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Cheshunt Memorials, Not on the Waltham Cross Memorials
Pre War
Sidney William Barker was born in late 1889, in South Weald, Essex, son of William Barker a Bricklayers Labourer and Emily Jane Barker (nee Perkins). The eldest of 6 children although one died in infancy.
He was Baptised on 27th October 1889, at St Peters Church, South Weald, Essex.
1891 Census records Sidney aged 1, living with his parents and half-brother Ralph Perkins (10), in Green Lane, South Weald, Essex.
Sidney’s mother Emily died in late 1899, aged 38, she was buried in St Peters Churchyard, South Weald, on 7th December 1899.
1901 Census records Sidney aged 11, living with his widowed father, three brothers, Stanley (9), Frederick (2), Thomas (1) and sister Frances (5), at 13 Coxtie Green, South Weald, Essex. The family had a live-in Housekeeper Louisa Eldred.
No 1911 Census record for Sidney was found. His father William had remarried, and was living at 6 Wood Cottages, Crow Green Road, South Weald with wife Louisa, and sons Stanley (18), Frederick (13) and Thomas (11).
Sidney married Mable Emily Louisa White, of Waltham Cross, the daughter of Henry George and Emily Louisa White in late 1916, the marriage was registered in Edmonton, Middx. They went on to have a daughter Eva Mable Barker born in February 1918.
Wartime Service
Sidney enlisted at Waltham Cross, Herts, posted to the 5th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, with the service number 45608. Sidney was serving in Egypt and Palestine when he was Killed in Action on 2nd November 1917. He is buried in the Gaza War Cemetery, Israel and Palestine, (including Gaza). Grave Ref; VIII. F. 1.
Additional Information
Mable received a grant £5, on 24th November 1917 and a widow’s pension of 20/5 (£1-00-05) a week from 20th May 1918. Her Pension card records her address as 9 Railway Road, Waltham Cross, Herts. Sidney's pay owing of £4-8s-9d, was awarded to Mable and child, his war gratuity of £3, went to Mable.
His Headstone Inscription “REST IN PEACE” was requested by his wife Mabel.
Note. The 5th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment served in Gallipoli, sailing from Liverpool on 30th July 1915, via Mudros, landing at Suvla Bay on 10th August 1915. They were evacuated from Gallipoli on 19th December 1915 and sailed for Alexandria, were they served in Egypt and Palestine. We do not know if Sidney served in Gallipoli or just Egypt and Palestine.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
