Frank Gilbert Arden Barker

Born in the first quarter 1881, Frank Gilbert Arden was the son of George and Annie Maria Barker (née Langford). His father George was born in Hucknall Torkard, Nottinghamshire, the son of John and Elizabeth Barker (née Truman, d. 2 February 1885). The family lived in Hucknall but on the 1861 and 1871 Census Elizabeth was listed as head of household. She had at least three children and her sons, George (b. abt 1843) and John Truman (b. 1849 d. 1924) were both framework knitters. Frank's mother Annie Marie Langford was born in Stafford, Smethwick, in about 1853. George and Annie were married in 1874 (O/N/D West Bromwich Staffs). They had seven children but two died in infancy or childhood, one of whom was Walter George, birth registered 1884 (J/F/M Basford), who died aged five in 1888 (O/N/D). Their five surviving children were: Horace William L. b. Hucknall 1878 (reg. William Horace L [Langford]); Frank Gilbert Arden b. Hucknall 1881 (reg. J/F/M); Clara Ellen (also Ellen Clara, also Helena Clare) b. Kimberley March 1887; John Truman b. Kimberley 29 September 1890 and Lucy May b. May 1893. In 1881 George (39), a shawl manufacturer, and Annie (28) were living on Watnall Road, Hucknall, with their two sons, Horace (2) and Frank (3m). By 1891 they had moved to Jubilee Street, Kimberley, where Annie was a school mistress (certificated teacher) at Kimberley Church School. Although other records give George's occupation as a Shetland shawl manufacturer, on this and the 1901 Census he was described as a chemical works labourer. He and Annie now had four children: Horace, Frank, Ellen (4) and John (7m). Lucy May was born two years later in 1893. The family continued to live in Kimberley although in 1901 they were on Eastwood Road. Annie was still employed as a school mistress. Only four of their children were in the home on the night of the census: Horace, a Vienna bread baker, and Helena (sic), John and Lucy (7) who were still at school. Frank (20) was working as a butcher and living on Cottenham Street, Manchester, a boarder in the household of Charles Ward, a butcher, and his family. Frank has not yet been traced on the 1911 Census, but his parents had moved to 84 Highbury Avenue, Highbury Vale, Bulwell, Nottingham, which was to be their home until George's death in 1925. He was described on the census as a retired Shetland shawl maker and his wife was no longer teaching. Only John, a mining student, and Lucy, a postal assistant at a sub-post office, were still living at home. Horace has not yet been traced on the census but Helena Clare (sic) was probably working as a nursemaid in the household of Hugh Longbotham, a coal merchant, and his wife and their adopted child, at Woodsetts, Worksop, Nottinghamshire. Annie Maria died at home on 4 November 1918 aged 65. The death certificate, which is one of the documents in her son John's service record, shows that she died from heart disease and syncope. Her married daughter Lucy Mears was present at her death. George died seven years later on 14 April 1925, also at 84 Highbury Avenue. According to a notice of Frank's death in the local newspaper in June 1917, his brother Horace was serving in Salonika (no military record yet traced). Their brother John, an underground surveyor (presumably in the mining industry), attested on 9 December 1915 and was posted to the Army Reserve the following day. He was not mobilized until 26 July 1918 when he joined the Royal Engineers at Chatham (327952 Pioneer). However, he was taken ill with enteric fever, probably some time in September as by 10 October he was admitted to a convalescent hospital recovering from 'paratyphoid B'. The documents are badly damaged but although he appears to have spent time in military hospitals as a convalescent until at least February 1919 he deserted at Chatham in December 1918 and was absent for 24 days until 20 December. A Court of Inquiry on 14 January 1919 found that he had been illegally absent and was deficient of an extensive list of 'clothing, public clothing, necessaries' and other items. Of Franks' siblings: William Horace Langford died in 1947 (registered Horace WL Barker, J/F/M Cleveland Yorkshire North Riding). Ellen Clara - Helena Clare - probably married John E Howe (b. 20 August 1892) in 1918 (Hendon Middx). In 1939 they were living in Ilford, Essex, with their daughter Jean Cecilia (b. 6 May 1921) a civil servant. John was a radio service engineer and Collector of Wrecks Marine. Helena died in 1982 (reg. Helena Clare, Norwich Norfolk). John Truman probably married Ellen Tyers (b. 17 August 1900) in 1925. In 1939 they were living in Nottingham with their daughter Joan (b. 19 June 1928). He was a clerk to an armaments inspector. John died on 5 March 1961; his wife survived him. Lucy May married Charles J Mears (b. 13 December 1892) in 1917 (J/F/M Nottingham). In 1939 Lucy and Charles, a postmaster, were living in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, with their daughter, Joyce C Mears (b. 19 July 1921) an insurance clerk, his widowed mother Alice Mears and John D Bulton (b. 13 January 1930). Lucy died in 1984 (reg. Buckinghamshire).