JOSEPH BARKER

Private 306762

2^nd/ 7^th Bn., Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby).

Died Thursday 21^st. March 1918

Grave ref. Bay 7 Arras Memorial Pas de Calais France.
No photograph. Can you help? Joseph Barker was born at Selston, Notts in 1896. Son of Thomas Barker, a Bricklayer born in Ironville and his second wife Harriet Barker, who by 1901 were living in Sedgwick Street, Jacksdale. The 1901 Census records that Joseph had younger sisters named Ellen (b. 1897) and Gladys (b. 1898) as well as a brother named John (b. 1900).

Joseph in 1906 - a pupil at Ironville School

Joseph was recorded as missing in The Red Cross Enquiry Lists on 1^st October 1918, but it was obviously determined later that he had actually been killed in action on Thursday 21st March 1918, age unknown, during the German offensive at Noreuil, France. Our records indicate that Joseph would have been aged 22 years at time of death. He initially served with the 2/8^th Btn. The War Graves Commission records that at time of death, he served with 2/7Btn, but by March 1918, the 2/7th’s had been disbanded and posted to the 1/7th Btn and other battalions of the Sherwood Foresters. He was with ‘D’ company, 14 platoon, when he died.

Joseph is mentioned on his parents grave in Ironville Churchyard. His father, Thomas died in 1942 and his mother, Harriett died in 1931. The Electoral Roll of 1915 lists two Thomas Barker’s one at Sedgwick Street and the other at no 65, Pye Hill Road, Jacksdale. It would be interesting to establish whether they were related.

He is commemorated at The Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France, along with 35,000 other casualties who have no known grave.

John Thomas Stocks 21686 Private 2/7 Btn Sherwood Foresters listed on the Selston, Notts Memorial was killed on the same day, during the same offensive.

Sherwood Foresters World War One Casualties – 11,298

Last Updated 12th May 2007

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