Name
William Barber
1873
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
11/07/1915
42
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Farrier Quartermaster Serjeant and Carriage Smith
33
Royal Field Artillery
4th Home Countries Brigade
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Territorial Force War and British War medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
KIRKEE 1914-1918 MEMORIAL
Face 1.
India
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Welwyn Garden City memorials, Eastbourne War Memorial, Sussex
Pre War
William Barber was born in Willingdon, Sussex in 1873, the son of Charles and Annie Barber. He was baptised on 19 March 1886 at Christ Church, Eastbourne, Sussex, (aged 11) along with his brothers Edmund (aged 7) and Frank (8 months).
On the 1881 Census the family were living at Wannock Road, Willingdon, where his father was working as a Clerk to a Land Agent. They had moved to Eastbourne by 1891 and were living at 10 Gilbert Road, at which time William was a Blacksmith's Apprentice. They remained in Eastbourne in 1901 but had moved to 99 Sideswell Road and William's occupation was given as Coachsmith.
He married Elizabeth Akehurst on 19 September 1903 at Church Church, Eastbourne, Sussex and was then living at 3 Dennis Road, Eastbourne and working as a Blacksmith. In 1908 he was known to be in the employ of Mr Bullman, Church Street, Eastbourne.
William served in the Cinque Ports Voluntary Force from 1888 to 1895.
By the 1911 Census he was living at Avenue House, Eastbourne with wife Elizabeth, son Wilfred, aged 3 and brother Herbert who was a postman. William remained working as a Blacksmith.
Wartime Service
William enlisted at Eastbourne, Sussex in 1908 having previously served as a volunteer with the 2nd Sussex RGA Volunteers. Prior to the outbreak of war he had served as a Sgt Farrier, Staff Sgt Farrier and QM Sgt Farrier. He was mobilised on 5 August 1914 and served in India from 29 October 1914.
He died on 11 July 1915 at Jullundor, India from heat stroke and pneumonia and is buried at Jullundur Cantonment Cemetery, However, after Indian Independence in 1947, the graves were considered to be unmaintainable, although CWGC is now working to reinstate the original graves.
His name is now commemorated on the Kirkee 1914-1918 Memorial, India.
Additional Information
A war gratuity of £10 and pay owing of £16 6s 2d was divided between his widow Elizabeth and their son Wilfred. His widow was also granted a pension of 19s 6d a week for herself and her child. (N.B. Elizabeth married Ernest Souter in 1922 and lived at 8 Youngs Rise, Welwyn Garden City. It seems that William Barber had no direct connection to this location.)
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Brenda Palmer, www.roll-of-honour.com.
