The AIF Project

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Admitted No 4 Auxiliary Hospital, Abbassia, 9 November 1915; discharged to unit, 14 December 1915.

Taken on strength of 3rd Bn, Tel el Kebir, 5 February 1916.

Transferred to 55th Bn, 13 February 1916; taken on strength of 55th Bn, Tel el Kebir, 13 February 1916.

Promoted Corporal, Ferry Post, 31 May 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 19 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916.

Posted missing, 20 July 1916.

Previous report of missing, now, 9 July 1917, to be reported as 'Killed in Action, 20 July 1916' on the statement of Pte A.E. Ward, 3944, 61st Bn (late 55th Bn).

Note, Red Cross File No 220803: 'No trace Germany. Cert. by Capt. Mills 10.10.19.'

Statement, 2725 Pte I. [or J.?] W. MUTTON, 55th Bn (patient, 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, England), 4 November 1916: Right of Fleurbaix in No Man's Land he was killed by a piece of shell, I saw him dead. He was brought back and buried at Sailly.'

Second statement, 2677 Pte O. HODGSON, 55th Bn (patient, Northants War Hospital, Duston, England), 13 November 1916: 'Informant states that on July 19/16 at Vermelles (sic) about 6 or 7 o'clock in the evening Cpl Barber, R. was shot through the throat, between the German lines and our own. Informant helped to bandage him and carry him down but he died of his wounds.'

Third statement, 3944 Pte A.E. WARD, 55th Bn (patient, Northumberland War Hospital, Newcastle, England), 20 October 1916: 'Informant states that on July 19/16 at 5.45. p.m. between Armentieres and Sailly a feint attack was made, designed to draw the enemy forces from the Somme. During the charge informant saw Barber killed. He fell close beside him, and at first informant was not certain whether he was killed or not, but when the Battalion retired on their original front trench, he passed the place where Barber fell, and saw him lying there dead. The Battalion was relieved at 2. a.m. on the 20th, and up to that time no search parties had been able to so any work, owing to the enemy's heavy bombardment which continued up to 9.30. or 10. a.m. on the 20th. Barber was hit near the enemy trenches and must (sic) probably have been buried by the Germans.'

Fourth statement, 2849 Pte F.J. HUBBARD, 55th Bn (patient, Queen's Hospital, Birmingham, England), 8 September 1916: 'Informant states that on 19th July last about 11 p.m. at Armentieres District he saw two of his company supporting Cpl Barber past the trench to the Battn. dressing station, wounded. This wasprior to Informantbeing himself wounded, and his Company after retreated from German trench to their own lines. He thinks Cpl Barber must have been taken prisoner along with Lieut. J. Matthews.'