Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas Gilbert Barker a brickyard labourer, born 1874 in Loughborough, Leicestershire and his wife Fanny Barker (nee Riley, married on the 25th May 1896 in the Parish Church Sileby, Leicestershire), born 9th November 1877 in Syston, Leicestershire. Thomas Henry was born on the 19th August 1898 in Sileby, Leicestershire and was baptised in the Parish Church Sileby on the 30th October 1898, his siblings were Edith Sarah, born 1897, John Edward, born 1905, Violet Elizabeth, born 1907 and Wilfred Idle, born 1909, all his siblings were born in Sileby, in April 1911 the family home was at Barrow Road, Sileby, Leicestershire.
Thomas attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement (For the Duration of the War, with the Colours and in the Army Reserve.) on the 28th August 1916 in Loughborough. He gave his home address as 110, Barrow Road, Sileby, his age as 18 years and 11 days and his trade or calling as shoe hand. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his religion as Church of England. He gave his mother Fanny Barker of 110, Barrow Road, Sileby, Leicester as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 6¼ inches in height, weighed 126 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 33 and 35 inches. His physical development was described as good. It was noted that he had a scar on his chin. After attestation on the 28/8/16 in Loughborough he was transferred as Private, service number 37554 to the Army Reserve, Leicestershire Regiment on the 29/8/16. Mobilized on the 22/2/17. Posted to the 4th Training Reserve Battalion at Rugeley Camp and allotted the service number 5/13740 on the 27/2/17. Posted to the 3rd Training Reserve Battalion and allotted the service number 5/100270 on the 18/6/17. On the 25/9/17 at Seaham Harbour he was charged with the offence that on the 23/9/17. Overstayed leave from midnight to 9.30am 24/9/17. He was awarded 4 days CB (Confined to Barracks). Transferred to the 4th Battalion Durham Light Infantry on the 3/10/17. Embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 20/12/17. Joined and posted to the 18th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, Etaples and allotted the service number 77935 on the 21/12/17. Reposted to the 15th Battalion Durham Light Infantry on the 24/12/17. Joined the Battalion, in the field on the 29/12/17. Posted missing in action 21-31/3/18. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 28/8/16 to 19/12/17, 1 year 114 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 20/12/17 to 21/31/3/18, 102 days. Total service 1 year 216 days. He was awarded the British War and Victory medals. The following information was provided by Thomas’s father Thomas Barker on the 17th October 1919, and was witnessed and signed by Fred Leigh Burrow, Vicar of Sileby, Sileby Vicarage, Loughborough on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, Thomas Barker of 110, Barrow Road, Sileby, Loughborough. Mother of soldier, Annie Barker of 110, Barrow Road, Sileby, Loughborough. Full blood brothers of soldier John Edward Barker, age 14 of 110, Barrow Road, Sileby, Loughborough. Wilfred Barker, age 9 of 110, Barrow Road, Sileby, Loughborough. -?- Barker, age 4 of 110, Barrow Road, Sileby, Loughborough. Bertie Barker, age 2 of 110, Barrow Road, Sileby, Loughborough. Full blood sisters of soldier, Violet Elizabeth Barker, age 12 of 110, Barrow Road, Sileby, Loughborough. Lilian Barker, age 15 months of 110, Barrow Road, Sileby, Loughborough. Thomas’s surviving service documents are in poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 21 Mar-18 – HEUDICOURT. At 5.50am the Battalion moved to the BROWN LINE East of HEUDICOURT, passing through a gas cloud after leaving HEUDICOURT. During the day the BROWN LINE was subjected to heavy shell fire. At 7.15pm the Battalion moved to an assembly point East of the RAILTON CROSS ROADS and counter attacked the YELLOW LINE and YELLOW SUPPORT West of VAUCELETTE FARM, which lines had been won by the enemy earlier in the day. The attack was entirely successful, but unfortunately in this operation the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel H. W. FESTING was killed. The Battalion obtained touch on their right with the 2nd LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT. Captain S. D. THORPE M.C. took over command of the Battalion.
The War Diary records: 22 Mar-18 – HEUDICOURT. Having obtained information as to the whereabouts of the 1st LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT on our left who were holding CHAPEL HILL at 3.00am. An effort was made to obtain touch with them by a bombing raid, but owing to heavy Machine Gun fire from the dug-outs on the RAILTON – VAUCELETTE FARM ROAD, it was only possible to gain ground to the road, where a block was established. From 8.00am onwards the positions were subjected to heavy shell fire, and during the morning two enemy efforts to gain the YELLOW LINE were repulsed by our Light Gun and rifle fire. Enemy artillery fire continued and at 12.00 noon the enemy were observed massing for an attack. At 12.15pm, under orders from the 62nd Brigade the YELLOW LINE was evacuated, the Battalion withdrawing through the BROWN LINE to PIONEER CAMP. Here the Battalion assembled and marched to LIERAMONT and owing to that village being under shell fire the Battalion moved to the LIERAMONT – NURLU ROAD. At 6.30pm the Battalion moved to a position in the GREEN LINE North West of TEMPLEUX-LA-FOSSE.
The War Diary records: 23 Mar-18 – TEMPLEUX-LA-FOSSE. At 8.15am the enemy attacked and at 8.30am advice was received that the Battalion on the right was withdrawing, and the Battalion immediately withdrew through CI-DERRIERE WOOD, finally taking up a position in LARRES TRENCH North to North West of AIXECOURT-LE-HAUT. During this operation the Battalion fought -?- Rearguard action. At 12.30pm the enemy attacked our position through a mist, and owing to the 2nd LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT on our left withdrawing, the Battalion evacuated the line and moved through HAUT ALLAINS to a position North of FEUILLAUCOURT. At 2.00pm the enemy attacked the troops holding MOUNT ST QUENTIN. This place was evacuated and under personal instruction from the General Officer Commanding 64th Brigade, the Battalion withdrew to a position from CLERY COPSE to the RIVER SOMME East of CLERY. At 10.00pm the enemy attacked our right flank gaining a little ground in consequence of which a defensive flank was formed. Later on our right flank was moved to the Eastern edge of CLERY where we obtained touch with the MACHINE GUN CORPS.
The War Diary records: 24 Mar-18 – CLERY. At 8.00am the enemy shelled our positions, and at 8.30am attacked in force, the position became untenable and the Battalion withdrew under heavy Machine Gun and artillery fire. A position was taken up North East of HEM from which the Battalion withdrew under heavy pressure to a position about 500 yards West of the last position. Our line was reinforced with new troops and at 2.30pm a counter-attack was successfully made and our position North East of HEM regained. During these operations -?- Companies on our left flank materially assisted our withdrawal checking the enemy positions. At 5.00pm the enemy made a vigorous attack (using large numbers of troops) the brunt of which fell upon our left and the Company -?- withdrew to the position 500 yards West. At night the right flank of the line resting on the North bank of the SOMME was withdrawn to CURLU, and the Division being relieved by the 35th Division, the Battalion marched to SUZANNE, where the Battalion was billeted for the night.
The War Diary records: 25 Mar-18 – BRAY. The Battalion moved to BRAY and a Company was formed out of the Battalion (under Captain S. H. HERBERT M.C.) and became a Company of the Composite Battalion formed from the 64th Brigade under the command of Major J. H. COLES of the 1st EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT. The remainder of the Battalion moved to a camp North of CHIPILLY, where they bivouacked for the night.
The War Diary records: 26-27 Mar-18 – CHIPILLY. From the remnants of the Battalion a Company 70 strong under Lieutenant W. GOOD was formed and joined Lieutenant Colonel McCULLOUGH D.C.M. who was commanding a Composite Battalion. The Composite Battalion took up positions in BRAY from which they withdrew to RIBEMONT at 2.00pm. Where the party were in Reserve.
The War Diary records: 28 Mar-18 – RIBEMONT. The Composite Battalion moved the HEILLY in Reserve. Stragglers commenced to join the Battalion Transport lines at BEAUCOURT.
The War Diary records: 29 Mar-18 – RIBEMONT. The Composite Battalion remained at HEILLY in Reserve. On the night of the 29th the stragglers moved to BONNAY in Reserve.
The War Diary records: 30 Mar-18 FRECHENCOURT. The Composite Battalion moved to FRECHENCOURT where they billeted for the night. The Battalion transport moved to ALLONVILLE with the stragglers party.
The War Diary records: 31 Mar-18 – ALLONVILLE. The Composite Battalion disbanded, men joining their own Battalions. Major C. E. R. HOLROYD-SMITH M.C. took over the command of the Battalion. During the operations the Battalion suffered the following casualties.
OFFICERS
KILLED IN ACTION
21 MARCH Lt. Col. H. W. FESTING.
24 MARCH 2nd Lieutenant W. GARDNER.
DIED OF WOUNDS
21 MARCH 2nd Lieutenant W. H. WILSON.
22 MARCH 2nd Lieutenant W. PARK.
WOUNDED AND MISSING
24 MARCH Captain T. A. L. WELCH.
24 MARCH Captain C. W. T. BARKER M.C.
MISSING
21 MARCH 2nd Lieutenant A. W. L. HUSBAND.
24 MARCH 2nd Lieutenant L. WILSON.
24 MARCH 2nd Lieutenant H. J. HALE.
24 MARCH 2nd Lieutenant H. S. TURNER.
WOUNDED
21 MARCH 2nd Lieutenant J. C. TREGEA.
22 MARCH Lieutenant K. H. SAUNDERS M.C.
23 MARCH Captain J. SEDGEWICK M.C.
23 MARCH 2nd Lieutenant C. W. BODMAN.
24 MARCH Lieutenant M. S. O’BRIEN.
24 MARCH Lieutenant J. KEY.
24 MARCH 2nd Lieutenant C. STEPHENSON.
OTHER RANKS
KILLED IN ACTION 29.
DIED OF WOUNDS 4.
WOUNDED 227.
MISSING 226.
On Friday June 7th 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “LOCAL CASUALTIES.” The official casualty lists published during the past week have included the following local names:- From Monday’s list: Missing. Durham L.I. – Barker, 77935, T. H. (Sileby).