James Barker

* James Barker

Born on the 21st January, 1863 at Byers Green in Durham, England.

Birth certificate

This is a list of the Barker Family that is known:

Father: Thomas born in Yorkshire

Mother: Mary born in Lancashire

All brothers and sisters were born in Durham.

These are approximate dates of births.

1. John born 1859

2. Mary Ann born 1861

3. James as above

4. William born 1866

5. Thomas born 1869

6. Henriette M. born 1870

7. Jane born 1873

8. Charles born 1875

9. Robert born 1878

10. Garside born 1879

11. Sarah L. born 1882


High St, Byers Green, Durham

Parish Church, Byers Green, Durham.

This is the mine where we believe that James' father (Thomas Barker) could of been working in 1863.

Arrived in Australia 31st August 1885, on the ship "Trafalgar", leaving from the port of London and arriving in Sydney.

Resided in Wallsend, NSW

Married 19th April 1889 to Anne Morgan, (Born 15th September 1869, Wallsend, NSW. Died 21st February,1944 at Kurri Kurri. Parents Job Morgan,b. 23rd January 1829, Argoed, Monmouth Shire, Wales and Hannah Cattell,b. 14th March 1839, Bristol, Somerset Shire, England)

Occupation Coal Miner in Wallsend and Abermain.

They had 9 children.

1. Eldest James Barker Jnr. Born 1890 at Wallsend. Died at Grafton in 1918 due to pneumonia age 28.( He was refused entry to the army due to poor health?).

2. Lambert Manfred Barker. Born 1891 at Wallsend. Enlisted in AIF on 18th April, 1914

3. Thomas Garside Barker. Born July, 1894 at Wallsend. Enlisted in AIF on 14th October, 1914.

4. Job Barker. Born 17th May, 1896 at Wallsend. Enlisted in AIF on 21st December, 1915.

5. John Albert Barker. Born 1900 at Wallsend. Enlisted in AIF on 27th July, 1916.

6. William Arthur Barker. Born 1902 at Wallsend. Too young to enlist.

7. Ernest A. Barker. Born 1904 at Wallsend. Died 1905 at Wallsend.

8. Edward Barker. Born 1908 at Wallsend. Died 10th November, 1909 at Kurri Kurri. Buried at Kurri Kurri Cemetery.

9. Mary Barker. Born 13th November, 1911 at Abermain. Died 24th December,1912 at Kurri Kurri. Buried at Kurri Kurri Cemetery( With Edward and Annie).

*Wallaby March*

* Letter From Prime Minister William M.(Billy) Hughs, for recruitment, December 1915.

The Wallaby march commenced in Narrabri on the 8th December, 1915. The march ended in Newcastle on the 8th January 1916. There were 265 men from the north west of NSW, the Liverpool Plains and the townships of the Hunter Valley who enlisted at the end of the march.

These men were to form the 34th Battalion

Colours of the 34th Battalion

James Barker enlisted into the AIF on the 4th January, 1916 at West Maitland, NSW.

34th Battalion, D Coy. Rank Private. Service/Regimental Number 1477

He was 45 years old? (53 years old)

Embarked Sydney, NSW on the ship "Hororata" on the 2nd May, 1916.

Disembarked Plymouth on the 23rd June, 1916.

Transferred to the 9th Brigade, Head Quarters, England, 7th November,1916.

Proceeded overseas on the 22nd November, 1916 to France.

Transferred to the 34th Battalion on the 6th April, 1917 in the field.

Marched out from Con. Camp on the 29th May, 1917.

Rejoined from Con. Camp on the 13th June, 1917.

Killed in Action on the 20th July, 1917 in the field, Belgium.

Buried in a Shell Hole a few yards to the east of Chapelle Du Valeur in front of RAP, Messines, France.

Photo of 4 of the Barker Boys. From left to right:
Lambert Manfred Barker, Job Barker, James Barker, Thomas Garside Barker.

Left:

Photo taken in camp in 1916 at B.Meadow, NSW.

Standing on the right is James Barker, below him is Job Barker.

The other 2 soldiers are unknown.

Right:

Photo taken in England in 1916.

James Barker

We believe this Photo is of the grave site of James Barker and comrades killed in action in Belgium, 20th July, 1917.

Photo James Barker

29 The Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.

Photo James's medal that was sent to Annie in the original box and envelope

World War 1 records: