The Barker Boys: The War

* James

34th Battalion

Colour Patch

The 34th Battalion was formed in January 1916 at a camp established at the Maitland showground in New South Wales. It was planned that the bulk of the battalion's recruits would be drawn from the Maitland area and thus it was dubbed "Maitland's Own". The first recruits for the 34th, however, hailed from the far north-west of the state and arrived at Maitland after joining joining a recruiting march that began in Walgett. These men were known as the "Wallabies".

The 34th became part of the 9th Brigade of the 3rd Australian Division. It left Sydney, bound for the united Kingdom in May 1916. Arriving there in late June, the battalion spent the next five months training. It crossed to France on 22nd November, and moved into the trenches of the Western Front for the first time on 27th November, just in time for the onset of the terrible winter of 1916- 1917.

The 34th Battalion had to wait until the emphasis of British and Dominion operations switched to the Ypres Sector of Belgium in mid - 1917 to take part in its first major battle; this was the battle of Messines, launched on 7th June. After several stints in the trenches, and a period of rest and training, the battalion entered battle again on 12th October around Passchendaele. The battlefield, though, had been deluged with rain, and thick mud tugged at the advancing troops and fouled their weapons. The battle ended in a disastrous defeat, and over 50 per cent casualties for the 34th.

For the next five months the 34th alternated been periods of rest, training, labouring, and service in the line. When the German Army launched its last great offensive in the spring of 1918, the battalion was part of the force deployed to defend the approach to Amiens around Villers- Bretonneux. It took part in a counter - attack at Hangard Wood on 30th March, and helped to defeat a major drive on Villers - Bretonneux on 4th April.

Later in 1918, the 34th also played a role in the Allies' own offensive. It fought at the battle of Amiens on 8th August, during the rapid advance that followed, and in the battle of St Quentin Canal - the operation that breached the Hindenburg Line at the end of September, thus sealing Germany's defeat. The 34th Battalion disbanded in May 1919.

* Lambert

17th Battalion

Colour Patch

The 17th Battalion was raised at Liverpool in New South Wales in March 1915 as part of the 5th Brigade. It left Australia in early May, trained in Eygpt from mid-June until mid-August and on 20th August landed at ANZAC Cove.

At Gallipoli the Battalion participated in the last action of the August Offensive - the attack on Hill 60 - before settling into defensive routine in the trenches. For a short period part of the 17th garrisoned Pope's Hill, but for most of its time on the peninsular the Battalion was responsible for the defence of Quinn's Post, one of the most contested positions along the entire ANZAC front. The Battalion was evacuated from Gallipoli in December 1915.

After further training in Egypt, the 17th Battalion proceeded to France. Landing there on 22nd March 1916, it took part in its first major battle at Pozieres between 25th July and 5th August. The Battalion returned to the Pozieres trenches for a second time, although in a reserve role, between 18th and 28th August. After a spell in a quieter sector of the front in Belgium, the 2nd Division, which included the 5th Brigade, came south again in October. The 17th Battalion was spared from having to mount an attack across the quagmire the Somme battalefield had become, but did have to continue manning the front through a very bleak winter.

In 1917 the 17th was involved in the follow-up of German forces after their retreat to the Hindenburg Line, and was one of the four battalions to defeat a counter-stroke by a German force, almost four times as strong, at Lagincourt. The Battalion took part in three major battles before the year was out, second Bullecourt (3rd - 4th May) in France, Menin Road (20th - 22nd September) and Poelcappelle (9th - 10th October) in Belgium.

After another winter of trench duty, the 17th Battalion helped to thwart the German Spring Offensive of 1918. With this last desperate offensive defeated, the Allied armies turned to the offensive and the 17th participated in the battles that pushed the German Army ever closer to defeat: Amiens on 8th August, the legendary attack on Mont St Quentin on 31st August, and the forcing of the Beaurevoir Line around Montbrehain on 3rd October. Montbrehain was the battalion's last battle. It was traing out of the line when the armistice was declared in November 1918, and was disbanded in April 1919.

* Thomas

13th Battalion

Colour Patch

The 13th Battalion AIF was raised from late September 1914, six weeks after the outbreak of the First World War. The battalion was recruited in New South Wales, and with the 14th, 15th and 16th Battalions formed the 4th Brigade, commenced by Colonel John Monash.

The Brigade embarked for overseas in late December. After a breif stop in Albany, Western Australia, it proceeded to Egypt, arriving in early February 1915. Australia already had an AIF division there, the 1st. When the 4th Brigade arrived in Egypt it became part of the New Zealand and Australian Division.

The 4th Brigade landed at Anzac Cove late in the afternoon of 25th April 1915. From May to August, the battalion was heavily involved in establishing and defending the ANZAC front line. In August, the 4th Brigade attacked Hill 071. The hill was taken at great cost, although Turkish reinforcements forced the Australians to withdraw. Th 13th also suffered casualties during the attack on Hill 60 on 27th August. The battalion served at ANZAC until the evacuation in December.

After the withdrawal from Gallipoli, the battalion returned to Egypt. While in Egypt. While in Egypt the AIF was expanded and was reorganised. The 13th Battalion was split and provided experienced soldiers for the 45th Battalion. The Brigade was combined with the 12th and 13th Brigades to form the 4th Australian Division.

In june 1916, the 13th sailed for France and the Western Front. From then until 1918, the battalion took part in bloody trench warfare. Its first major action in France was at Pozieres in August. in February 1917, Captain W.H. Murray, who had transferred to the 13th from the 16th Battalion, earned the Victoria Cross for his actions during an attack near Gueudecourt. He became one of the most highly decorated officers in the AIF. The 13th Battalion, along with most of the 4th Brigade suffered heavy losses at Bullecourt in April when the brigade attacked strong German positions without the promised tank support. The battalion spent much of the remainder of 1917 in Belgium advancing to the Hindenburg Line.

In March and April 1918, the battalion helped to stop the German spring offensive. This advance by British and empire troops was the greatest success in a single day on the Western Front, one that German General Erich Ludendorff described as "...the black day of the German Army in this war....".

The 4th Brigade continued operations until late September 1918. On 18th September Maurice Buckley, serving as Sergeant Gerald Sexton, was awarded the Victoria Cross for valour near Le Verguir. At 11am on 11th November 1918, the guns fell silent. In November 1918 members of the AIF began to return home for demobilisation and discharge.

* Job &
* John

35th Battalion

Colour Patch

The 35th Battalion was formed in December 1915 in Newcastle, New South Wales. The bulk of the battalion's recruits were drawn from the Newcastle region and thus it was dubbed "Newcastle's Own". Reflecting the demographics of the area, there were a high proportion of miners among the battalion's original members.

The 35th Battalion became part of the 9th Brigade of the 3rd Australian Division. It left Sydney, bound for the United Kingdom in May 1916.Arriving there in early July, the battalion spent the next four months training. It crossed to France in late November, and moved into the trenches of the Western Front for the first time on 26th November, just in time for the onset of the terrible winter of 1916 - 1917.

The battalion had to wait until the emphasis of British and Dominion operations switched to the Ypres Sector of Belgium in mid - 1917 to take part in its first major battle; this the battle of Messines, launched on June 7th. The 35th's next major battle was around Passchendeale on 12th October. Heavy rain, though had deluged the battlefield, and thick mud tugged at the advancing troops and fouled their weapons. The battle was a disaster for the 35th; 508 men crossed the start line but only 90 remained unwounded at the end.

For the next five months the 35th alternated between periods of rest, training, labouring and service in the line. When the German Army launched its last great offensive in the spring of 1918, the battalion was part of the force deployed to defend the approaches to Amiens around Villers - Bretonneux. It took part in a counter - attack at Hangard Wood on 30th March, and helped to defeat a major drive on Villers - Bretonneux on 4th April. The desperate nature of the fighting at this time is revealed by the fact that the 35th Battalion suffered nearly 70 per cent casualties during these operations.

Later in 1918, the 35th also played a role in the Allie's own offensive. It took part in the battle of Amiens on 8th August; fought several small battles during rapid advance that followed; and at the end of September provided reseves for the joint Australian - American operation that breached the Hindenburg Line, thus sealing Germany's defeat. THe 35th Battalion disbanded in March 1919.