Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas Shimilt Barker a bricklayer, born on the 16th April 1858 in Castle Donington, Leicestershire and his wife Sarah Ellen Barker (nee Atkin, married in the 4th quarter of 1878 in the General Baptist Chapel, Castle Donington, Leicestershire), born on the 12th September 1857 in Shepshed, Leicestershire. George Everard was born in the 1st quarter of 1881 in Castle Donington, his siblings were Ethel Annie, born on the 20th June 1879 in Castle Donington, in April 1881 the family home was at Clap Gun Street, Castle Donington. In April 1891 George was a schoolboy and was residing in the family home at Bond Gate, Castle Donington, together with his father, a bricklayer, his mother and siblings, Arthur Thomas Barker Atkin, a basket maker born in the 2nd quarter of 1877 in Castle Donington, Ethel, a domestic servant, Henry Percival, a schoolboy, born on the 28th October 1884, Charles Frederick, a schoolboy, born in the 1st quarter of 1886, Ada, a schoolgirl, born on the 17th December 1887 and William Hallam, born on the 21st January 1890, the latter four siblings were all born in Castle Donington. In March 1901 George was employed as a brewery labourer and was residing in the family home at 3, Victoria Street, Castle Donington, together with his father, a bricklayer, his mother and siblings, Arthur, a bricklayer’s labourer, Henry, a bricklayer, Frederick, a tailor’s apprentice, Ada, a hosiery trade worker, Hallam, Douglas, born in the 3rd quarter of 1891, Edgar Leonard, born in the 2nd quarter of 1893, Sidney, born on the 10th November 1896, Ernest Norman, born in the 3rd quarter of 1898 and Gilbert Baden, born on the 20th May 1900, the latter five siblings were all born in Castle Donington. In April 1911 George was absent from the family home in Bondgate, Castle Donington, residing there was his father, a bricklayer, his mother and siblings, Arthur, a bricklayer’s labourer, Ada, a hosiery trade overlocker, Hallam, a painter, Edgar, a jobbing gardener, Sidney, Norman, Baden and Herbert, born on the 24th February 1902 in Castle Donington, George was employed as a labourer and was residing as a boarder at Hemington, Leicestershire. George married Florence Johnson in the 2nd quarter of 1916 in the Shardlow, Derbyshire district, Florence was born on the 10th March 1881 in castle Donington, after marriage they resided in Clapgun Street, Castle Donington together with Florence’s son, Kenneth Arthur Johnson, born 15th April 1911.
He was born and officially registered at birth with the names George Everard Barker, however the family appear to have chosen to use his second name Everard, and as such in many of the census returns he appears variously as George and Everard, he enlisted into the Army as Everard, but when he married he used the name of George Everard,
His younger brother Edgar Leonard fell in action on the 4th May 1917 in France.
Everard enlisted/attested into the Regular Army on the 8th September 1914 in Loughborough, Leicestershire, and was allotted the service number 15140. He gave his place of birth as St. Luke’s, Castle Donington, Leicestershire and age as 33 years 10 months. Marital status as single and his trade or calling as labourer.
His medical examination recorded that he was 5 feet 6½ inches in height, weighed 150 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 37 and 41 inches, his complexion was described as fresh, he had brown eyes and his hair colour was brown, he gave his religion as Church of England.
He gave his next of kin as his father, Thomas Barker, his mother Sarah Ellen Barker, Park Lane, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, his brother Arthur Barker, Kegworth, Leicestershire and sister, Ethel Whieldon of Hemington, Leicestershire.
During his period of military service the following events of note occurred:-
Joined. Depot. Leicestershire Regt. 9/9/14.
Posted. To 9th Bn. Leicestershire Regt.14/9/14.
Deprived. Of 6 days pay for absence on the 7/5/15.
Posted. To B.E.F. France. 29/7/15.
Wounded in action. Gunshot wound to the right arm. 21/8/15.
Admitted. Hospital, Etaples.21/8/15.
Transferred. Home aboard Hospital Ship S.S. Brighton, 30/8/15.
Posted. To Depot.30/8/15.
Posted. To 10th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. 23/10/15.
Posted. To B.E.F. France.17/2/16.
Joined. 8th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. In the Field.10/3/16.
Wounded and missing in action. In the Field. 25/9/16.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and the Allied Victory Medal.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 8/9/14 – 28/7/15. 324 days.
British Expeditionary Force, France. 29/7/15 – 29/8/15. 32 days.
Home Service. 30/8/15 – 16/2/16. 172 days.
British Expeditionary Force, France. 17/2/16 – 25/9/16. 222 days.
Total Service. 2 years 20 days.
Everard’s surviving service record amounts to a total of seven pages, of which only five pages relate directly to his military service, and these are in poor condition with much of the hand written information in some cases barely legible, damaged or missing entirely, however the content does offer at least a little descriptive insight into some of the events that took place during his period of military service.
The War Diary records: 24-30 Sep-16 - East of TRONES WOOD. About 7.00pm on the 24th the Battalion marched up to take a position prior to making an attack the next day. Before they reached the position the enemy heavily shelled our men, several casualties resulting. At 12.30pm on the 25th the first attack was launched, the 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT being in a position on the right of FLERS. The objective was the first German line, a distance of about 1000 yards from the trench from which the Battalion launched the attack. The attack was made in waves, each platoon forming a wave, and 2 waves going over at a time. The attack was launched with splendid heroism, the first objective was gained in about ¾ of an hour, the men then stopped a short time to consolidate their gain, and to allow the artillery barrage to lift. They then pressed on to their second objective which was the village of GUEDECOURT. By the time they reached the village their ranks were sadly thinner, by the tremendous artillery barrage the enemy put up, and by machine guns which wrought terrible havoc. Never the less with dauntless gallantry they pressed on reaching the village and engaging the enemy in hand to hand fighting, which took place all the night. In the morning the 7th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT relieved the 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT in the village, and the enemy were finally driven out. The 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT were brought back to the second line of trenches, where they were relieved by the 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT on the 28th. They then went back to SWISS TRENCH where they remained until relieved on the night of October 1st.
On Tuesday, August, 31st, 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – ROLL OF HONOUR. – News has been received that Private EVERARD BARKER (of Castle Donington), has been wounded. His younger brother, Edgar Barker, has just arrived in England, having been wounded in a mine explosion. He is now in hospital at Boscombe and making satisfactory progress.