Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Richard Lee Barker, a general labourer, born in the 4th quarter of 1845 in Magdalen, Norfolk and his wife Sarah Barker (nee Fendick, married in the 4th quarter of 1870 in the Downham, Norfolk district), born in the 2nd quarter of 1848 in Wimbotsham, Norfolk and baptised on the 15th December 1850 in All Saint’s Church, Foulden, Norfolk. Richard Lee, a schoolboy, was born on the 22nd March 1884 in Wimbotsham and was baptised on the 29th June 1884 in St. Mary the Virgin Church, Wimbotsham, his siblings were, Alice, born on the 9th September 1874 and baptised on the 6th December 1874 in Holy Trinity Church, Stow Bardolph, Norfolk and William, an agricultural labourer, born on the 13th July 1877, the latter two siblings were both born in Wimbotsham, in April 1891 the family home was at Stow Bridge Road, Wimbotsham, Norfolk. In the 1st quarter of 1899, Richard’s father died in Wimbotsham, aged 53. In March 1901 Richard was employed as a domestic gardener and was residing in the family home at Station Road, Wimbotsham, together with his widowed mother and sibling, William, an ordinary farm labourer, also residing in the family home was Richard’s married sister, Alice Howlett and her husband Isaac Ambrose Howlett, a maltster’s labourer, born on the 15th February 1875 in Wereham, Norfolk and baptised on the 18th April 1875 in St. Margaret of Antioch Church, Wereham, and their children, Sydney Ambrose M. Howlett, born in the 4th quarter of 1897 and Ivy Metcia Howlett, born in the 3rd quarter of 1899, both children were born in Wimbotsham. In April 1911 Richard was employed as a domestic gardener and was residing in the family home in Wimbotsham, together with his wife Daisy Ellen Barker (nee Spinks, married in the 1st quarter of 1911 in the Downham, Norfolk district), born on the 24th March 1888 in West Dereham, Norfolk and baptised on the 7th June 1891 in St. Andrew’s Church, West Dereham. Richard and Daisy had two children, Richard Lee, born on the 7th September 1912 and Archie Benjamin, born on the 12th May 1915, both children were born in Wimbotsham. Latterly the family home was at 27, Station Street, Loughborough, Leicestershire and later Richard’s widow moved to live at 88, Knightthorpe Road, Loughborough.
Richard’s Army enlistment documents do not survive, all that is known of his military service is that he enlisted in Norwich, Norfolk into the Norfolk Regiment, being allotted the service number 18487, and was posted as a Private to that Regiment’s Depot for training, subsequently being posted to the 9th Service Battalion. At some later stage, he was transferred to the 7th Service Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment, but it is unclear to join which Battalion he first entered the theatre of war in France on the 7th October 1915, as both Battalions were actively engaged in operations in France on the date of Richard’s arrival in France. Nothing further is known of his military service until he was officially recorded as having been killed in action on Monday 7th May, 1917, while serving with the 7th Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment. He was buried in Feuchy Chapel British Cemetery, Wancourt, France. Richard was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Richard’s widow Daisy, was awarded a weekly Army Pension of twenty two shillings and eleven pence for herself and her two children to commence on the 26th November 1917.
The War Diary records: 6 May-17 – MONCHY WOOD. 11.00pm. The enemy shelled MONCHY TRENCH (Support Line) and the vicinity of Battalion Headquarters during the day, knocking out a Vickers Gun crew and causing two casualties to ourselves. 1 killed and 1 wounded. Working is in progress tonight as last night and all trenches should be complete by daylight tomorrow.
The War Diary records: 7 May-17 – MONCHY WOOD. 11.00pm. The enemy bombarded our Support Line and Battalion Headquarters intensely and at short intervals throughout last night and this morning. Retaliation was obtained from our Field Guns and Heavies. 2nd Lieutenant K. R. POTTER, Commanding “A” Company was wounded by shrapnel in the face during the afternoon. At about 10.00pm the 5th ROYAL BERKSHIRE REGIMENT began to relieve the 7th NORFOLK REGIMENT in the Front Line. Our relief Companies moved off independently to the BROWN LINE.