Charles Barker

Charles Barker was born in 1886 in Nottingham and was the son of the late William James Barker a commercial traveller and Mary Ann Barker née Bamford of 291 Radford Boulevard Nottingham. His father was born in 1854 in Nottingham and his mother Mary Ann Bamford was born in 1857 in Nottingham, they were married in 1876 their marriage was recorded in the Radford Registration district, they went on to have the following children all born in Nottingham, Margaret Ada b1881, Charles b1886, Thomas b1887, William b1891 and Hilda b1894. Charles's father William James died in Nottingham in 1893 he was 39 yrs of age. In the 1911 census the family are living at 291 Radford Boulevard, Nottingham and are shown as Mary Ann Barker 54 yrs a widow and housekeeper , she is living with her children , Margaret Ada 30 yrs a newsgent, Thomas 24 yrs a chair maker and Hilda 17 yrs a typist. 291 Radford Boulevard Nottingham.

Private Charles Barker, “C” Company, 18th Battalion Australian Imperial Force, was killed in action at Hill 60, Suvla, on 22nd August 1915. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial (Panel 60).

A comrade serving in the same company, Pte. Stanley Tuckwell, saw him die. “I was in the same Company “C” 18th Battalion and in the same tent as Private Charles Barker, No. 821 “C” Company, 18th Battalion. We were in the same charge on 22 August, 1915 at Hill 60 and both fell together and I fell just beside him not three yards away. I asked him where he was hit and he said, “I am just about beat and am hit all over.” They played the Machine gun across again and he bid me good bye and then he gave a slight struggle and lay still and I am perfectly satisfied that he died then.” Above extract is from Charles Barker's army service record, courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918