Name
John George Barker
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
550662
Queen’s Westminster Rifles
16th City of London Battalion
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
John Barker was born in the summer of 1883 at St Giles, Middlesex. His father, John Barker (senior) was employed as an Inspector in the Police and the family lived in various places in east London. In the 1891 Census they lived at Poplar and in 1901 they had moved to Stepney. In the 1911 Census, when John (senior) had retired they lived at “Parkview” in Abbots Road, Abbots Langley. John (senior) and his wife Amelia, who was a Pupil Teacher in a Board School whilst in London, had three sons. In the 1911 Census John (junior) was noted as being employed as a Bank Clerk.
John (junior) enlisted with the Queen’s Westminster’s Rifles (16th QWR’s) at their depot at 58 Buckingham Gate, London on 1st September 1914. He was recorded for the first time in the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine Roll of Honour in January 1915 serving with the QWR’s. He was admitted to hospital for 46 days on 2nd April 1915 for treatment for a Hammer Toe, but the ailment was considered of a trivial nature and would not interfere with his future efficiency as a soldier. Whilst still training in England John was appointed Lance Corporal on 25th October 1915.
On 22nd June 1916 the 16th QWR’s embarked for France at Southampton and arrived at Le Harve the next day. The battalion remained in France until 19th November 1916 when they embarked at Marseilles destined for Salonika, and they arrived on 30th November. On 17th February 1917 John was promoted to the rank of Corporal, and on 21st March was further promoted to the rank of Acting Company Quarter Master Sergeant. The battalion then embarked on 21st June and sailed to Alexandria where they arrived on 26th June 1917. On 12th August John was granted forty-eight hours Leave, and on 21st September was promoted to the rank of Regimental Sergeant Major. However on 6th October he reverted to the rank of Corporal.
John’s Service Record indicated that he received a gun-shot wound to his thigh on 14th December 1917, but the circumstances, or where he was treated are not noted. He recovered, but his Record noted that soon afterwards he was admitted to hospital suffering from Shingles from 29th January to 17th February 1918. On 11th March John was promoted to the rank of Acting Sergeant, and was later promoted to Sergeant on 16th June 1918.
The battalion embarked at Alexandria on 17th June, and disembarked at Taranto in southern Italy on 21st June 1918. John attended a Gas Course at X Corps Gas School, in the Field, between 16th and 23rd July, however it is not known where this took place.
John was granted 14 days Leave via Calais to England between 6th and 20th August 1918, and whilst he was at home he married Alice Davis at Wealdstone Crescent Church, Harrow on 14th August 1918. He was granted a two day extension to his period of Leave, and re-joined his battalion in the Field on 24th August. He received more periods of Leave to Rouen from 13th to 17th December and 21st to 23rd December 1918. John was sent to England for de-mobilisation on 5th February 1919, and was demobilised on 6th February. His destination address was given as 4 Greenhill Road, Harrow.
John Barker survived the War.
Additional Information
Formerly service number 2807.
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
