Name
Herbert Charles Barr
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/10/1918
27
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
703140
Canadian Infantry
102nd Bn. Brit Columbia Reg or Central Ontario Reg
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CANADA CEMETERY, TILLOY-LEZ-CAMBRAI
Plot II, Row D, Grave 17.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, St James' Church Memorial, Watford Fields
Pre War
Son of Mary (nee AUSTIN) and the late Henry BARR.
His parents married 25 December 1873 at Christ Church, Radlett, Herts. Henry died 25 February 1901 in Watford aged 52, and was buried 28 February in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford. Mary remarried 19 April 1902 at St Mary’s, Willesden, London, to Cornelius John STEVENS. Mary died 1932 in Watford aged 79, and was buried 18 August in Vicarage Road Cemetery; Cornelius died 1945 in Watford aged 76, and was buried 26 March, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
Herbert was born 9 November 1892 in Watford, and baptised 18 December 1892 at St Matthew’s, Oxhey, Herts. He went to Canada 16 March 1913 aboard the Allen Line Pretorian Liverpool to Halifax: a plumber aged 20.
He has an entry in the National Probate Calendar.
On the 1901 Census, aged 8 he lived in Watford, with his widowed mother and two siblings. On the 1911 Census, a gas works fitter aged 18, he still lived in Watford, with his mother, step-father and one sibling.
Wartime Service
He attested at Sechelt, British Colunbia, in the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force 17 December 1915: a gas fitter aged 23, unmarried, C of E, 5’7″ tall, of Sechelt. His next-of-kin was his mother of Watford.
He was proceeding with a party to Blecourt to establish an observation post, when he was his by an enemy “wiz-bang” and almost instantly killed.
Additional Information
There is an article about Herbert in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 17 August 1918, with another article and a Death announcement in the issue dated 19 October 1918; plus an In Memoriam in the issue dated 4 October 1919.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
