The Barker Boys

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The Five Barker Boys.
World War 1.
The Great War.
The war to end all wars.
1914-1918
Countries of the British Empire and the United States of America
Against Germany

The Last Train Home by Laketrees.
Now lives at the Historic Neath Hotel, Neath, NSW

The Barker Family ~ Pre War

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James Barker birth certificate

This is a typical house in Wallsend in the late 1800's and early 1900's. Some of the children may of been born in the house.

This is Wallsend Hospital.The original hospital was opened in 1893 on 3 acres of land. The building has been added to over the years. This is also where some of the children were born.

Photo on marble 1897 at Wallsend, NSW.
Mother Ann Barker (Annie) nee Morgan, seated on her lap Job Barker. Standing in centre, James Barker Jnr. Seated in centre, Thomas Garside Barker. Seated to left, Lambert Manfred Barker.

This is a photo from the school in Wallsend some of the boys could be in this photo.

The next 6 photos are of the coalmines in Wallsend in which they worked.

This is the policeman guarding the pit entry during a lockout.

This is a miners picnic.A postcard made from photos of the mines in Wallsend.
Cooks on site in Wallsend.

This is the house of one of the owners of the coalmines.

Farmers of the area.

The next 9 photos are of the Wallsend area.

Photo taken approx. 1911. Job Barker on far right with 4 friends who are unknown.

Photo taken in "the Selections", Abermain, NSW approx. 1913.
Standing left to right. John Albert Barker, James Barker Jnr, Lambert Manfred Barker Thomas Garside Barker, Job Barker.

Seated from left to right. James Barker Snr, Ann Barker, William Barker (Billie), Hannah Morgan nee Cattell, Jane Morgan.

* Abermain

Green arrow shows where Sawyers Gully Also know as the "Selection" Abermain

These are the hotels that the Barker Boys drank at:

Photo of the Abermain Hotel also known as "Bluey's" after the publican Bluey Andrews, later known as "Griffo's" after Ron and Lorna Griffiths who run the hotel for a long time.

The building of the Denman Hotel, Abermain, approx. 1912.

The Neath Hotel, Neath, NSW.

Miners meeting at the Buffalo Hall opposite the Abermain Hotel approx. 1910.

James Barker

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* 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:

Lambert Manfred Barker

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* Lambert Manfred Barker

Born in 1891 at Wallsend, NSW.

Late of the "Selections", Abermain, NSW.

Occupation - Grocer.

Enlisted in the AIF on the 18th April, 1915 at Liverpool, Sydney, NSW.

1st Regiment of the 17th Battalion. Rank Private. Service/Regimental Number 1503.

Age 24 years.

Embarked for England on the 12th May, 1915, H.M.A.T. "Themistocles".

Served for 4 years and 104 days. Was abroad for 4 years and 21 days.

Embarked for Australia on the 5th April, 1919 on the "Warwickshire".

Disembarked in Sydney on the 31st May, 1919.

Rank- Lieutenant Sergeant when discharged on the 30th August, 1919.

This is a photo taken of Lambert taken in Cairo in 1915. Lambert sent this photo home to his Family. His mother took the photo and got it copied, then sent it as a postcard to Job (Annie's brother) in 1916.

Photo of Lambert and an unknown friend. We believe it was taken in 1915 before Lambert embarked overseas.

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

Photo Lambert Photo Lambert on the left in the store room handing out towels to the troops during the war.

Lambert's medals

Buttons and Badges off Lambert's unifoms

Lambert's Diary from the war.

A page from the diary and a pressed flower that was kept in his diary.

Lambert War Records:-

Thomas Garside Barker

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* Thomas Garside Barker

Born July 1894 at Wallsend, NSW.

Occupation- Coalminer, Abermain, NSW.

Enlisted in the AIF on the 14th October, 1914. Rank Private. Service/Regimental Number 1406.

Age 20 years 3 months.

16th October 1914 papers signed at Rosehill,Sydney,NSW.

Joined the 13th Battalion, D Coy on the 21st December, 1914.

Disembarked Australia at Melbourne on H.M.A.T. A38 "Ulysses" on the 22nd December, 1914.

Military Medical Papers state Enlisted 1st October, 1914 and that he was in the 23rd Battalion, B coy which is different from enlistment papers.

Arrived England ?

Arrived Gallipoli?

Was wounded in Gallipoli on the 3rd May, 1915 with a GSW (gun shot wound) to jaw.

Was in hospital in the Egyptian Government Ophthalmic Hospital, Damanhour on the 7th May,1915.

Transferred to No 17 Gen; Hospital, Alexandria, Egypt on the 3rd June, 1915

Transferred to Glymenopoulo, Ramleh, Egypt on the 23 June, 1915.

Transferred to Conval:Depot Mustapha on the 15th July, 1915.

Transferred to 1/Aust.Gen.Hospital, Heliopolis on the 27th July,1915.

Disembarked the Suez on the ship "Thermistocles" on the 15th August, 1915.

Arrived Melbourne on the 9th September, 1915.

Was Discharged on medical reasons on the 27th November 1916.

Photo taken of Thomas unsure of location. Taken after 1915, after Thomas had returned from the war. He has the shrapnel in his jaw.
This is what Thomas's mother Annie had written on the back of the photo which she sent to her brother Job.

Photo taken of Thomas and unknown friend unsure of location. Could have been taken in Sydney, Melbourne or overseas. 1914/1915?

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

These are Thomas's war records:

Job Barker

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* Job Barker

Born 17th May, 1896 at Wallsend,NSW.

Occupation Wheeler in the Coalmines, Abermain,NSW.

Enlisted in to the AIF on the 21st December, 1915 at West Maitland, NSW.

35th Battalion, B Coy. Rank Private. Service/Regimental Number 375.

Age 19 years, 7 months.

AWL 24th April,1915. Fined 15/. B.Meadow Camp

Embarked from Sydney on the ship A24 "Benalla" on the 1st May, 1916.

Disembarked Plymouth on the 9th July, 1916.

AWL Midnight 20th October, 1916 till 10 ? 22nd October, 1916, England. Total fine 10 days without pay?

Proceeded overseas from Southampton on the 21st November,1916 to France.

Transferred to England on the 29th September, 1917.

Embarked the H J Port Lyttletor on the 19th October, 1917.

Returning to Australia for discharge for family reasons.

Discharged 30th December,1917.

Photo of Job. Unsure of location, it could of been taken in Sydney or Overseas in 1916/1917.

Photo of Job and unknown friend. Unsure of location, it could of been taken in Sydney or Overseas in 1916/1917.

Photo taken in training camp at B.Meadow in 1916. Standing on the right is James Barker. Kneeling below him is Job. The other 2 soldiers are unknown.

Photo taken on the Sailisbury Plain and appeared in the Sydney mail in 1916. Standing from left to right: Pte Thompson, Pte Job Barker, Sergt. Fletcher, Pte Shears, Pte S. Bamback, Pte A. Purcell. Seated from left to right: Pte J. Colgate, Corp. Hartland, Pte J. Price, Pte. T. Dixon, Pte Tusty.
Photo of 4 of the Barker boys. From left to right:
Lambert Manfred Barker, Job Barker, James Barker, Thomas Garside Barker.

Job's medals

Job's War Records:

John Albert Barker

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* John Albert Barker

Born 1900 Wallsend,NSW.

Occupation Coalminer,Abermain,NSW

Enlisted in the AIF on the 27th July, 1916 at Newcastle,NSW.

35th Battalion, D Coy. Rank Private. Service/Regimental Number 2534.

Age 18, 7 months ? ( 16 years old)

Embarked Sydney, NSW on the ship O.C. "Ascanius" on the 25th October, 1916.

Disembarked Devonport on the 28th December, 1916.

Proceeded overseas to France on the 15th March, 1917.

Marched out from Estaples on the 3rd April, 1917.

Went to the field on the 4th April, 1917.

Killed in Action on the 7th June, 1917 in the field, Belgium.

Buried Toronto Avenue Cemetery 1 1/2 miles south of Messines, France.

Photo 17th February 1918. J.A. Barker memorial Cross - 2600 Corporal C. Holliday, C Company, 35th Battalion, at memorial erected near Ash crater to membersof the 35th Battalion, who fell at the battle of Messines on the 7th June, 1917. A memorial similiar to this one less the names was erected by the Battalion Pioneers near Gooseberry Farm, just west of Messines, in June 1917 but was destroyed by enemy shellfire.

Photo John Albert Barker Headstone at Toronto Avenue Cementry, Messines, France.

John Albert's medal that was sent to his mother Annie after he was killed in action.

John's War Records:

Passage to War

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"It's a Long Way to Tipperary"

Up to mighty London came
an Irish lad one day,

All the streets were paved with gold,

So everyone was gay!

Singing songs of Piccadilly,

Strand and Leicester Square,

'Til Paddy got excited and

he shouted to them there:

It's a long way to Tipperary,

It's a long way to go.

It's a long way to Tipperary

To the sweetest girl i know!

Goodbye Piccadilly,

Farewell Leicester Square!

It's a long long way to Tipperary,

But my heart's right there.

Paddy wrote a letter

To his Irish Molly O'

Saying, "Should you not receive it,

Write and let me know!

If I make mistakes in "spelling",

Molly dear", said he,

"Remember it's the pen, that's bad,

Don't lay the blame on me".

It's a long way to Tipperary,

It's a long way to go.

It's a long way to Tipperary

To the sweetest girl i know!

Goodbye Piccadilly,
Farewell Leicester Square!
It's a long long way to Tipperary,
But my heart's right there.

Molly wrote a neat reply

To Irish Paddy O'

Saying, "Mike Maloney wants

To marry me, and so

Leave the Strand and Piccadilly,

Or you'll be to blame,

For love has fairly drove me silly,

Hoping you're the same!"

It's a long way to Tipperary,
It's a long way to go.
It's a long way to Tipperary
To the sweetest girl i know!
Goodbye Piccadilly,

Farewell Leicester Square!

It's a long long way to Tipperary,

But my heart's right there.

Extra Wartime Verse

That's the wrong way to tickle Mary,

That's the wrong way to kiss!

Don't you know that over here, Lad,

They like it best like this!

Hooray pour le Francais!

Farewell, Angleterre!

We didn't know the way to tickle Mary,

But we learn't how, over there!

* James *

The "Hororata"

Built in 1913 for the New Zealand shipping Co. ( which lost 11 ships during World War 1 1914-1918). In service 1913 - 1942.
9,400 tonnes. 14knots.
Commonwealth control ended 11th September, 1917.

Part of the Embarkment roll on the "Hororata" 2nd May, 1916, from Sydney, NSW.

*Lambert*

The "Themistocles"

Was built in 1911 for the Aberdeen Line. Was scrapped in 1947. 11,231 tonnes. 15knots. G.Thompson & Co. Ltd. London Commonwealth control ended 20th October, 1917.

The Embarkment roll for the "Themistocles" 12th May, 1915, from Sydney.

The "Warickshire"

Embarked for Australia 5th April, 1919.

Disembarked in Sydney 31st May, 1919.

"Photo still to come"

*Thomas

H.M.A.T. A38 "Ulysses"

14,499 tonnes. 14knots
China Mutual SN Co. London.
Commonwealth control ended 15th August, 1917.

Part of the Embarkment roll for the " Ulysses" on the 22nd December, 1914 at Melbourne, Vic.

The "Themistocles"

Was built in 1911 for the Aberdeen Line. Was scrapped in 1947.
11,231 tonnes. 15knots.
G.Thompson & Co. Ltd. London
Commonwealth control ended 20th October, 1917.

Embarked The Suez on the 15th August, 1915

Arrived Melbourne, Vic. on the 9th September, 1915

*Job

H.M.A.T. "Benalla"

Part of the Embarkment roll for the "Benalla" on the 1st May, 1916 from Sydney, NSW.

Disembarked Plymouth on the 9th July, 1916.

H.J. Port "Lydelton"

"photo still to come"

Returned to Australia on the H.J. Port "Lydelton" on the 19th October, 1917

* John

O.C. "Ascanius"

10,000 tonnes. 13 knots.
Ocean SS Co. Ltd. Liverpool

Commonwealth control ended 30th July, 1917

Part of the Embarkment roll from Sydney, NSW on the 25th October, 1916

Disembarked Devonport on th 28th December, 1916

The War

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* 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.

Troops of the 35th waiting to board the ships to take them to war.

Photos of the War

Camp in Egypt 13th Battalion

Troops boarding ships at Alexandria on their way to Gallipoli

Troopships on their way to Gallipoli

Troops the night before landing at ANZAC Cove

Troops coming off the ships into landing craft ANZAC Cove

Troops on their way to ANZAC Cove

Troops landing at ANZAC Cove

Troops landing Day one at ANZAC Cove

Troops on the beach at ANZAC Cove

Troops the Second day at ANZAC Cove

17th roll call at Quinn's Post

Map of ANZAC Cove, Brighton Beach and North Beach

Turkish soldiers at Gallipoli

A Hospital Barge

A Hospital ship off ANZAC Cove

A Hospital ship arriving at Alexandria from Gallipoli.

Australian 1st Gen. Hospital, Heliopolis.( This is one of the hospitals that Thomas was in.)

Australian troops at Alexandria, Egypt

Australian troops in Cairo

Messines

Australia's Greatest Horsemen

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* Rough Riders

Photos Australian Light Horse in Eygpt and Palastine.

They seem to be the best rodeo riders of their time!

Photos of unknown People of interest

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If You know any of these unknown people in the following photos please let us know!!!

Job Barker and unknown friend. Probably from the 35th Battalion. Taken 1916/1917 either in Australia or overseas.

Photo taken at training camp at B.Meadow in 1916. Standing second from the left is Job Barker on his right is James Barker. All other soldiers are unknown. They could be from 34th or 35th Battalion.

Thomas Garside Barker and unknown friend. Could have been taken in Sydney, Melbourne or overseas in 1916. Could have been in 13th Battalion as well.

Photo taken at B.Meadow training camp in 1916. Standing on the right is James Barker. Kneeling below him is Job Barker. The other 2 soldiers are unknown. Could be from 34th or 35th Battalion.

Photo of unknown soldier. Must of been a friend of one of the Barker Boys, maybe Job.

Photo of Lambert Manfred Barker and unknown friend. We believe it was taken in 1915 before Lambert left for overseas.

Post War

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* Lambert Manfred Barker.

Lambert was discharged from the army 30th August, 1919. He went back to Abermain and became manager of the Kurri Kurri Co. Op.

Photo Kurri Kurri Co. Op. with all the staff Lambert in front row second from the left.

Photo Closer look at Lambert in the photo above.

Lambert was married in 1922 to Mary E. Foot at Redfern.

They had 1 child. Jack Manfred Barker born in 1923.

Lambert died in 1937 from being gassed in the war.

His son Jack married in 1950 to Jean Margaret MacClintock or McClintock at Cessnock.

* Thomas Garside Barker

Returned to Melbourne, Victoria, 9th September, 1915. He made his way back to Abermain where he was discharged from the army 27th November, 1916 on medical grounds

Thomas married Isabel Bower in Kurri Kurri in 1916.

He later moved to Scottville in Queensland.

Green arrow on map shows Scottville,Qld.

Thomas married Ruby May

Thomas worked as a miner in Queensland.

Later he worked on the wharf at Bowen.

Ruby May died 28th November, 1953 and was buried the same day at Bowen Cementry, Qld.

Ruby was 61.

Thomas is believed to have died 16th November, 1970.

Thomas still had the piece of shrapnel in his jaw till the day he died.

Thomas was buried at Bowen Cementry, Qld on the 17th November,1970.

Aged 76.

Thomas and Ruby May had 2 children a daughter and a son.

Tom and Ruby May's son is Thomas James Barker, Born 12/1/1926.

Tom has 2 children a son and a daughter.

Tom and Ruby's daughter's name is Annie Mearle Barker, 18/08/1932.

Annie Mearle had 5 children, 3sons and 2 daughters

Up to this date we have no further photos of Thomas.

* Job Barker

Job returned to Australia and was discharged 30th December, 1917 for family reasons.

He returned to work in the coal mines of Abermain.

Job Married Gladys Lillian Richardson in 1921 at Kurri Kurri.

Photo Job and Gladys wedding 1921. Photo: Job and Gladys wedding in 1921
From left to right: William Barker, Janet Cook, Gladys Barker (nee Richardson), Job Barker, Stephen Henry Richardson.

Photo: Job and Gladys wedding in 1921
From left to right: William Barker, Janet Cook, Gladys Barker (nee Richardson), Job Barker, Stephen Henry Richardson.

They had 3 children.

1. Thelma May Barker born 1922 at Kurri Kurri.

2. John Albert Barker born 1927 at Kurri Kurri.

3. Kenneth Leslie Barker born 1932 at Kurri Kurri.

Job suffered for many years with Bronchitis and other illnesses due to gassing in the war.

Job retired from work in the coal mines in 1954 where he then received a war pension and a coal miners pension.

Job died in 1969 at Cessnock.

* William Arthur Barker

William was too young to go to war. He was also known as Billie.

His worked in the coal mines in Abermain.

William married Janet Cook in 1925 at Kurri Kurri.
Photo of William Arthur Barker, His wife Janet and their eldest son James.

They had 5 children together.

1. James Barker.

2. William Barker Jnr.

3. Albert Barker.

4. Ronnie Barker.

5. Annette Jean Barker. Who died at the age of 14 in 1950 in Kurri Kurri.

Photo Annette Barker

William (Billie) died 11th July, 1963 at Hamilton. He is buried at Kurri Kurri Cemetery along with his wife Janet and beside them is their daughter Annette.

* Ann Barker

Photo Ann was also known as Anne and Annie. ( 1869 ~ 1944 )

Photo Annie at the house in Sawyers Gully

Photo Annie Barker

In The Media

2009-05-21T10:02:00.002+10:00

Article Newcastle Morning Herald 26th September, 1917.

Reads:

A Game Old Soldier
Mrs James Barker of Abermain, is one
of the heroic mothers of the war. She
not only allowed her three sons to go on
active service, but also her husband, who
was killed near Messines on July 20. One
son was killed, one invalided home and
one remains in the army. She has re-
ceived several letters from her late hus-
band's officers and comrades of the 34th
Battalion expressing appreciation of his
soldierly conduct.
Captain Wheeler, adjutant of the Bat-
talion, writes:- " I am extremely sorry
to have to report the death of your hus-
band, Private J. Barker, who was an old
and loyal member of the Battalion. His
great sacrifice in offering and giving his
sevices to his country has fixed a high
ideal of courage and bravery in the minds
of the men of the Battalion, which shall
never be forgotten. He did his duty to
the fullest extent, and was killed on one
of the biggest battle fields of this war.
You may be rightly proud of his worthy
actions and of your brave sons, who are
fighting in this great cause."
Lance - corporal John Bailey writes:- " It
is with deepest regret that I am writing
to you of the lamentable death of your
husband. I was with him at the time
and can assure you that he suffered no
pain. He and I, with Sergeant Cook and
a friend of Jim's, named Kelly, and an-
other named Hunter, were all sitting
down talking of what a fine time we would
have when we were granted 'Blighty
leave '. Suddenly a German shell burst in
our midst, burying us all with earth and
sandbags and smashing up our dugout,
which had just been built. Two of us
managed to extract ourselves quickly
and immediately got the others clear of
the earth and debris. We could not stay
to see exactly how much each man was
injured, as we were anxious to get stret-
ches and get them to the doctors. I had
only reached a distance of about twelve
yards when another shell burst exactly in
the same place as the first. Assistance
was quickly at hand, but poor Jim was
quite dead, and two others, Kelly and
Burke were seriously wounded. It was
a terrible shock to the two of us who
were left, from which we have not yet
fully recovered. If you can be comforted
at all in your great sorrow, perhaps the
fact that your dear husband was spared a
lingering death, with awful pain, may
console you. He was a favourite with all,
and everybody regrets his death."
Captain-chaplin A. S. M'Cook, who con-
ducted the burial service, writes:-" The
spot where he lies beside some of his
young comrades will be marked and kept
in order, and the Battalion has already
taken steps to have a suitable memorial
erected over it. Truly, he was a game
old soldier and deserved to win through
but it was willed otherwise, and he must
be included among the heros who have
not shirked their sternest duty, and who
have yielded their lives in defence of a
great cause. But we know that your
heart will be sad, especially as i under-
stand that this is your second loss in a
short time."
Other letters speak of the dead soldier's
anxiety lest he should be deprived of as
sociating with his comrades in the danger
zone, because of his age. He was a gal-
lant old soldier, and a loved comrade.

Correction to article should say four sons not three sons.

Article Newcastle Morning Herald 26th September, 1992

Reads:
75 Years Ago
September 26, 1917.

Mrs J. Barker, of
Abermain, is one
of the heroic mothers of
the war. She not only
allowed her three sons to go on
active service, but also her hus-
band, who was killed near Mess-
ines on July 20.
One son was killed, one in-
valided home and one remains in the
army. She has received several
letters from her late husband's
officers and comrades of the
34th Battalion expressing ap-
preciation of his soldierly con-
duct.
Captain Wheeler, of the Bat-
talion, writes:- " I am extremely
sorry to have to report the death
of your husband, Private J.
Barker, who was an old and loyal
member of the Battalion.
His great sacrifice in offer-
ing and giving his sevices to his
country has fixed a high ideal of
courage and bravery in the minds
of the men of the Battalion, which
shall never be forgotten.
He did his duty to the fullest
extent, and was killed on one of
the biggest battle fields of this
war. You may be rightly proud of
his worthy actions and of your
brave sons, who are fighting in
this great cause."
Lance - corporal John Bailey
writes:- " It is with deepest regret
that I am writing to you of the
lamentable death of your hus-
band.
I was with him at the time
and can assure you that he suf-
fered no pain. He and I, with
Sergeant Cook and a friend of
Jim's, named Kelly, and another
named Hunter, were all sitting
down talking of what a fine time
we would have when we were
granted 'Blighty leave '.
Suddenly a German shell
burst in our midst, burying us all
with earth and sandbags and
smashing up our dugout, which
had just been built. Two of us
managed to extract ourselves
quickly and immediately got the
others clear of the earth and
debris.
We could not stay to see
exactly how much each man was in-
jured, as we were anxious to get
stretches and get them to the
doctors.
I had only reached a distance
of about twelve yards when
another shell burst exactly in the
same place as the first. Assistance
was quickly at hand, but poor Jim
was quite dead, and two others,
Kelly and Burke were seriously
wounded.
It was a terrible shock to the
two of us who were left, from
which we have not yet fully re-
covered. If you can be comforted
at all in your great sorrow, per-
haps the fact that your dear husband
was spared a lingering death, with
awful pain, may console you.
He was a favourite with all,
and everybody regrets his death."

Article Newcastle Morning Herald, 27th September, 2005.

Correction should say four sons not three sons.

60 minutes on Sunday 27th April, 2008

This is the transcript of the story

The Anzac Kids

Thursday, April 24, 2008
Reporter: Peter Harvey
Producer: Howard Sacre

These days, we're obsessed with the new. Everything's bigger, better, brighter than ever.
So it's a comfort to know that one tradition endures.
That the spirit of Anzac lives on.
And nowhere is it more robust than in Goondiwindi, western Queensland where the kids have found a unique way to honour the fallen.
They scoured the archives, researching the lives of the young men from the district who went off to fight and die in the First World War.
Then set out on an emotional pilgrimage to France and Belgium, following in the Anzacs' footsteps.
A new generation of Australians remembering the old.

Our Anzac story told, among other things, the story of Private John Barker, a 17 year old from rural Australia, caught up in some of the worst fighting of World War One.
What we didn't know was that John's father, 54 year old James, was also serving on the front line ...and died in battle just a month after his son was killed.
The Australian War Memorial supplied this photo - of John, they thought. In fact, it's his dad.
The Barker family was seriously involved in that great war...Not only John and James, but two other brothers, Lambert and Tom also fought, as did Job.
The fighting Barkers. Proud Australians.

Full transcript:

INTRODUCTION - PETER HARVEY: These days, we are obsessed with the new. Everything is bigger, better, brighter than ever. So it's a comfort to know that one tradition endures - that the spirit of Anzac lives on. And nowhere is it more robust than in Goondiwindi, western Queensland, where the kids have found a unique way to honour the fallen. They scoured the archives, researching the lives of the young men from the district who went off to fight, and die, in the First World War. Then set out on an emotional pilgrimage to France and Belgium, following in the Anzacs' footsteps - a new generation of Australians remembering the old.

STORY - PETER HARVEY: This is a school excursion like no other. These kids have travelled from outback Queensland to the heart of Europe, to see where, 90 years ago, an entire generation of young Australians, just like them, was lost. This will be a highly personal and deeply emotional mission. Their journey began a year ago, back in Australia, in Goondiwindi, a speck on the map west of Brisbane. Teacher Melissa Taylor asked her students to choose a soldier's name off the town cenotaph and find out everything about his life and death.
MELISSA TAYLOR: So, who were these people? Were they husbands? Were they sons? Did they have sons themselves? We need to find out in our research who were they?
PETER HARVEY: They were farmers, butchers and bakers, country boys, lives from a century ago about to take on a whole new meaning.
MELISSA TAYLOR: Pick a name and think about, well, what possibly did they do. Were they your age? Were they a bit older? Were they married? So you're going to become a part of the story and keep it going.
MELISSA TAYLOR: So he was 18 years and 10 months old when he...
JACK LUCAS: No, he was 17. I think he lied about his age.
MELISSA TAYLOR: He lied about his age, did he?
PETER HARVEY: Each of the kids adopted a soldier. Searching for each man's story, it became very personal.
MEGAN, STUDENT: I think he was only 22 or 23 when he enlisted, so really young.
MELISSA TAYLOR: You can see the rising sun badge on him.
PETER HARVEY: Inevitably, as time went on, they began to realise those soldiers were once just everyday kids, like them - teenagers who had no idea of the hell on Earth that awaited them in Europe.

SHELBY, STUDENT: Like, he was four years older than me and that's really hard to comprehend. When you think about it, they're only just going to uni now or leaving school and so on. You couldn't imagine even picking up a gun, firing at anyone.
JACK LUCAS: That's the last letter that he wrote, that's on the 16th...
PETER HARVEY: School captain Jack Lucas chose a farmer, Irving Thompson, who signed up with the 5th Australian Pioneers. He was just 17. How old are you?
JACK LUCAS: I'm 17, same age as Irving was. He lied to get in, put down 18 as his age. It just, it gives me a reality check, 'cause I'm planning things to do after I leave school and going to uni and stuff and he just signed up to go to war.
PETER HARVEY: The last time Irving Thompson's family saw him he was peddling his bike down to the station to go and sign up. Irving's little sister, Nea, now 93, still lives in Goondiwindi. She never met her brother. She was born when Irving was on his way to France. Do you remember your mother talking about him?
NEA THOMPSON: Oh, all the time. I can remember, as a tiny little thing, she was always crying when she got these letters.
PETER HARVEY: When you hear Irving's letters, you know why.
NEA THOMPSON: "We went out last night "under heavy machine-gun and artillery and rifle fire."
JACK LUCAS: I can't be thankful enough for you giving me all this information on Irving. It feels like I've got a story.
NEA THOMPSON: It's just incredible to go there because there's so many graves, as far as your eye can see.
PETER HARVEY: 93 years ago, Irving's journey to France took months on a troop ship. It took today's kids just 48 hours. They went straight to the old front line, at the village of Fromelles, the first big battle for the Australians, after Gallipoli. 2000 of our diggers were to die here in a single night.
JACK LUCAS: Irving's platoon would probably have been in this town walking down this street.
PETER HARVEY: That's true isn't it. There's every chance they walked down this road, marched down this road to the battle.
JACK LUCAS: This is a picture of Irving's division in England before they headed out. They all look pretty keen, but I don't think they really knew what they were getting themselves into. This is the day before the battle in the trenches. That's the German front line there.
PETER HARVEY: These are the trenches, are they?
JACK LUCAS: Yeah. I think this was taken on the night of the battle. That's the Australian line there and there's about - there's not much gap between them.
PETER HARVEY: What's this countryside remind you of?
JACK LUCAS: It's almost like home because there's no hills at home except for those down the back street.
PETER HARVEY: No hills meant no cover against German machine guns, yet the Australians went out in wave after wave. You can still reach out and touch the wreckage of that terrible night.
STUDENT: I want to know if it's German or British...
LES CARLYON: It was almost a throw back to the American Civil War - two lines of men just standing there killing each other, except most of the killing was done by the Germans.
PETER HARVEY: No-one tells the human story of the war better than author Les Carlyon. What was Fromelles all about?
LES CARLYON: What the Generals thought Fromelles was all about was a diversion. The Battle of the Somme had begun down south. The idea was, "We'll attack the Germans at Fromelles and tie them down there so they can't send reserves down south to the Somme." It's probably the most tragic night in Australian history that night at Fromelles.
PETER HARVEY: Irving Thompson actually survived that tragic night, but then he made a courageous offer - to go out and bring in his dying mates.

JACK LUCAS: The next day, on the 21st, he volunteered to go and collect the wounded and injured and it was a pretty brave thing to volunteer for because they were still under fire.
LES CARLYON: You had, literally, thousands of Australians lying out in no-mans land, in shell holes and other things. Shockingly wounded, some of them.
PETER HARVEY: It must have been absolutely terrifying for young blokes like Irving Thompson.
LES CARLYON: It's almost beyond, I think, our imagination. When you think flat land, totally exposed to German fire. And everywhere you looked there's a dead or wounded Australian. It really was one of the great horror shows of the war and poor Irving was in the worst part of it and, of course, that's where he was killed.
PETER HARVEY: Irving Thompson's body was taken from here and buried in the next village and that is where Jack is going now - to find Irving's grave and to read his eulogy.
JACK LUCAS: I found him. Irving was killed on July 21, in the battle of Fromelles, in which 5,000, and more, Australians were killed. Many of the Allied forces had been wounded and were laying in no-man's land since the night before. Irving volunteered with the others to go out and bring them in. He was caught by a sniper's bullet in barbed wire, only 17 years of age. They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them. Lest we forget.
PETER HARVEY: Another day and, for the kids of Goondiwindi, another story of sacrifice by their district's finest. We are on our way to the small Belgian town of Messines. It is here, along this small forest pathway, that many of the Goondiwindi diggers gave their lives as part of the 35th Battalion.
LES CARLYON: The 35th got very badly gassed in an area called Plug Street Wood. As they were going up to the start line they got hit by gas shells, and they had very heavy losses there.
PETER HARVEY: And this is Ploegsteert Forest. The diggers had trouble with that name so they called it simply Plug Street. It's here that so many of them died - groups of mates killed together by the same shell burst. And it's here, in this tiny cemetery, that they're buried together, their tombstones standing shoulder to shoulder. One of them was Private John Barker, a colliery train driver. He was 19, but looked so much older. When you look at that, how old would you say that bloke was at first glance?
SHELBY THOMPSON: 30.
PETER HARVEY: Shelby Thompson, who researched Private Barker, offered a reason why.
SHELBY THOMPSON: What he saw, I couldn't even imagine. Like, sitting here, I can't imagine what they all went through - it's so beautiful at the moment. And to think it was so muddy and so noisy and so deadly. There would have been artillery everywhere. People everywhere, people lying dead everywhere.
PETER HARVEY: With his experience in the coal mines, Private Barker may well have assisted in Britain's earth-shattering plan to take Messines. They kicked off the attack with 19 gargantuan explosions.
LES CARLYON: The British, for some time, had been tunnelling under the German lines. When the attack opened, they set off all these mines under the German lines. It was the greatest man-made explosion to that time and it was heard in London. So, if he was still alive then, he would have seen probably the greatest fireworks display the world's ever seen at that point.
PETER HARVEY: John Barker's 35th Battalion helped achieve the main objective - they drove the Germans out of Messines, but the battle cost 26,000 casualties, half of them Anzacs. All the graves in this nearby cemetery are Australian and, here, Shelby finds the resting place of John Barker. This is where it hits home.
SHELBY THOMPSON: "Before us today rests the headstone of Private John Albert Barker of the 35th Battalion. John has not yet received an official service, nor has any of his family had the opportunity to commemorate his life, here, at his final resting place."
PETER HARVEY: Now, at last, the eulogies that the families of so many of Goondiwindi's lost sons have never had the chance to give.
JACK LUCAS: "It was a far cry home for the 26-year-old butcher who attended the Goondiwindi State School. Private Donald Edward Boodle fought and died on this day. Lest we forget."
STUDENT: "In peace, sons bury their fathers. In war, fathers bury their sons. Today, we are gathered to bury a son of Australia, Thomas Bennett."
STUDENT: "Walter won a few medallions throughout his years of serving in the war. These included a star medal, a British war medal, and a Victoria medal. Walter was just one of the many men who fought for our country for us today."
STUDENT: "I am thankful for the great sacrifice that he made for his country, for my country, for our country, Australia."
SHELBY THOMPSON: It was such a moving ceremony, thinking, that cemetery - they were all from around our district. and to think that they all died there over three days, they all died together, all doing what they thought was right for their country.

STUDENT READS: "They shall not grow old as they are left to grow old..."
LES CARLYON: An 18-year-old kid can go to Gallipoli or France or Belgium and sort of think, "You know, if I'd been born back four generations, I might be in the ground here." It's as awful as that. How many future prime ministers did we lose? How many university professors did we lose? How many famous writers did we lose? How many good people did we lose? The damage that did to Australia you can't calculate.
PETER HARVEY: At every stop, the kids from Goondiwindi were reminded that, while the war was eventually won, Australia's losses were beyond measure. They told the stories that lie in just some of these graves, but now they know there's so much more to tell.
JACK LUCAS: I couldn't even fathom going into it. I doubt any of my mates could either. That's the real stuff, that's in the trenches.
PETER HARVEY: But if you had to do it for Australia, would you do it?
JACK LUCAS: Oh yeah, you'd do it for Australia. You'd do it for these blokes, if it came 'round again.
PETER HARVEY: Yes, you would.

This Article appeared in the Cessnock Advetiser 25th April, 2009.

The Neath Hotel & The Miners Lamp

2009-05-21T10:00:00.002+10:00

The Neath Hotel

The Hotel was built in the early 1900's as coal mining was rapidly developing in the rich coal seams of the Hunter Valley. The Neath Colliery coal lease was aquired by the Wickham and Bullock Island Coal Company during 1903.

A settlement developed at Neath. It was described as a "calico" mining village. Between 1910 to 1915 the mining employees totalled some 300 people. Tent and bag "humpies" housed the miners and their families

The tents and temporary dwellings were soon converted to rough sawn timber houses with corregated galvanised iron roofs. Along side the mining village was a football field and a gymnasium.

In contrast to the "calico" village work began early in the century on the 'Neath Hotel'. A subsatantial three storey building, even today, with steel floor joists ( provided by the same Scottish company who supplied the materials for the Sydney Harbour Bridge). It also boasts, as do most of the hotels in the Valley, the 'Iron Lace' balustrading which was shipped as ballist from foundries in England and Scotland.

The Barker Boys used to drink at the Neath Hotel before and after they went to war. This is where they more than likely met "Harry" Littlefair, if they did not already know him from working in the mines.

The Miners Lamp

Joseph Henry "Harry" Littlefair

In 1891 in the pleasant beach side Newcastle suburb of Merewether, NSW a child was born to Joseph and Sarah Littlefair. He was christened Joseph Henry but was to be known most of his life as "Harry". The Littlefair family moved from Merewether to Weston, a settlement near Neath, and Harry took employment in the mines. The advent of war and the tragedy of Gallpoli generated great patriotic zeal and Harry attempted to enlist not once, but five times.

On a winters afternoon, with the days work being done at the nearby Neath Colliery, Harry strolled into the Neath hotel's bar with a mate for his usual miners's black pint and a yarn before continuing on his way home for the evening meal. Presently he beckoned the hotel's landlady to him and in a noisy buzz of conversation which flowed around the bar said to her, "Put these upon the shelf. we'll collect them when we come back." He handed her a small brass oil lamp, the old fashioned naked light lamp which we never see these days and a small brass oil container.

Harry enlisted on the 30th August, 1915 at Maitland, NSW. Aged 24 years old in the 3rd Battalion, 14th Reinforcement as a private. He sailed from sydney on board RMS "Osterley" on the 15th January 1916.

Article in the Cessnock Advertiser 25th April, 2009.

Annie's Ghostly Grave

2009-05-21T09:59:00.007+10:00

In November 2008 I took my 3 week old daughter up to Annie's grave.
I had found out that buried in Annie's grave were 2 of her small children.
Edward Barker died 1909 aged 1 year old.
Mary Barker died 1912 aged 1year 1 month.
I named my daughter after Mary and Annie.
Her name is Maryanna.
On this day a few strange occurrences happened.
The first one was a photo that was taken while i was sitting on the side of the grave with my daughter.

This is the picture that was taken.
We seem to see Annie's ghost holding her 2 babies on the headstone.
We have looked at all the other photos taken on the same day and the image only seems to appear in just this one photo.

This is the photo, after looking at it I traced around what the shadow was.

It appears to be Annie holding her 2 babies.

*The 2 thing that happened was that my friend went to the car and the car doors locked themselves. Locking her into the car.

*The 3rd thing was while looking around the grave i found an old key that was sitting right next to the grave that had been uncovered by some heavy rain we had previously had.

This is the key. It looks very old to me and it had been there for long time with the amount of dirt it was covered in.

Later that day I had a phone call from Young Tom whom I had been searching for, for such a long time.

Coincident? Maybe but it was a very strange day indeed.