Harold Barker
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Harold Barker was born in 1897 at Nottingham and was the son of Ernest Tom Barker and Ada Barker née Potter of 39 Monk street, Nottingham. His father Ernest Tom was born in 1871 at Nottingham and his mother Adas Potter was born in 1872 at Chesterfield, Derbyshire. They were married in 1896 at Nottingham and went on to have the following children, Ernest b1896, Harold b1897, Horace b1901, Arthur b1903 William b1903 and Elsie b1911. All the children were born in Nottingham except Horace who was born in Shirebrook. In the 1911 census the family was living at 39 Monk Street, Nottingham, and shown as Ernest Tom 39 yrs a colliery mechanic, his wife Ada 38 yrs and their children, Ernest 16 yrs a printer, Harold 14 yrs an errand boy, Horace 10 yrs a scholar, Arthur 8 yrs a scholar, William 3 yrs and Elsie 4 months of age.
Private Harold Barker enlisted at Nottingham and served with the 1/7th battalion Sherwood Foresters Regiment. He served in France from 27th October 1915 and was killed in action on 1st July 1916 on the first day of the Battle of the Somme in the attack on the German positions at Gommecourt. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, France (Pier and Face 10 C 10 D and 11 A). He qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 1 July 1918: ‘Barker. Killed in action, July 1st, 1916. Pte. H Barker, 212 Gordon-road, Sherwood Foresters. Ever in our thoughts. Loving father, mother, sister, brothers, brother Ernest (in France), brother Horace with the colours.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 1 July 1919: ‘Barker in loving memory of Pte Harold Barker, Robin Hoods, killed in action July 1st 1916. Ever in our thoughts. Mam, dad, brothers and sister, brother Horace in Germany.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
