Allen Noel Birkett Barker

To France 1 October 1915 (Medal Roll). He died of wounds at the 42nd Casualty Clearing Station and was buried in Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension (grave ref IV.B.17).

CWGC headstone personal inscription: ''Beloved & honoured far as he was known' Wordsworth' Nottingham Rowing Club archive. 'In memoriam' card: 'In proud and loving memory of Allaen (sic) Noel Birkett Barker, Sergeant 66th Brigade RGA, died of wounds received in action in the 42nd Casualty Clearing Station in his 25th year, 12 September 1918, buried at Aubigney, near Arras France. He gave his life a ransom for many.' On the reverse of the letter is added, ‘his colonel writes us …’ (Nottinghamshire Archives, ref. DD/865/67/20-21) Extract from a letter dated 3 March 1919 from Allan’s father, J Birkett-Barker of The Croft, Lapworth, Warwickshire, to the secretary of the Nottingham Rowing Club in response to the invitation to the club’s memorial service at Nottingham St Mary’s in February 1919. The letter was inserted in the Club’s minute book: ‘I would like in some way to perpetuate the memory of my dear son’s affection for the Nottingham Rowing Club and its members by presenting a cup or bowl or shield to be competed for annually with some sort of (-) or replica as the case might be of the value of, say, £5 to the successful competitor. ‘ The letter went on that he expected his son, Lieut Greville Birkett-Barker, to be in Nottingham after he had been demobilized and to join the club ‘as he too is a boating (-) and will, I hope, worthily fill the place of his dearly loved brother whose loss we all ceaselessly mourn.’ (Nottinghamshire Archives, ref. DD/865/1/10, NRC Minute Book 1912-1919) Photographs of 21 members of the Rowing Club, including Allen Barker, who died in the war are held in Nottinghamshire Archives (ref. DD865/65/1-21). The photograph shows Allen in casual clothes, possibly the kit he wore for rowing, and was probably taken before the war (DD865/65/3).