BARKER John Lieut

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Surname: BARKER;

Forename(s): John;

Initials: J;

Rank: Lieut;

Resided in: Bourne, Lincs;

Previous Regiment: Worcs Regt;

Date of transfer to MGC: 07-Aug-1916;

MGC Branch: Infantry;

MGC Unit: 107 Coy;

Other MGC Unit Served (2): 36 Bn;

Awarded: MC;

Gallantry Notes: MC: For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He displayed great courage and determination throughout the operations and assisted in rescuing several men who had been buried. He set a fine example to his men.;

Other Data: Inns of Court OTC: K/2860 5/2/1915, Worcs Regt 23/2/1915, MGC, France, Lieut, pow, MC. Dunsby, Bourne, Lincs.
Joined 107 Coy from Base 18/7/1916
mentioned in report on operations 16/8/1917 - war diary (end)
POW Germany
ICRC Ref PA/21770/23075
PHOTO: GS Archives

My Dad. John Barker was bom in 1895 at B^owbY- he grew up the youngest son
of a country vicar and served 1 year each in the Officer Training Corps first at
Brighton College and then Worksop College. Dad enlisted in the Territorial Force
(no 2860) on 5th Feb 1915.1 am not sure but think it was established he had been
in the OTC so, on 23rd Feb 1915, he was appointed 2ndLt in Worcestershire
Regiment. Sometime later he was transferred to 107 MGC (he got in a bit of
trouble during his initial training and am not sure if his reward was a transfer to the
suicide club!).
He arrived in France in late June 1916 just missing the first days of the Somme. I
have some information that he was awarded his MC from action on 3 March 1917
and have the citation from the London Gazette of 11 May 1917. Apart from that I
know little about the circumstances that lead to his MC. The War Diary of 107th
MGC for that day says it is quiet. I have also read that was the day a German
rescuing referred to in his citation?
Dad was taken prisoner on the 1 stday of the German Spring Offensive. He never
said much about his experiences but one day he toldme that as POWs they were so
hungry two of his fellow prisoners fought over a dead sparrow!
Dad also served as an Auxiliary Cadet with the infamous K Company in 1921 -2
but was invalided out with a gun shot wound (barrackroom incident). Like many
families a great tragedy for Dad was that his eldest son (my half-brother) Thomas
Roy lost his life over Belgium on 12 May 1940 trying to stop the German advance
(Sgt Observer of 150 Sqn).;

Other Notes: MC: LG 11/5/1917
POW: 21/3/1918, repatriated 14/12/1918;

Is photo available? Yes, see VMGCRA Patreon

END OF RECORD.

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