William John Barker

A Private with the 17th Battalion, William died on 20th of October 1918 at the age of 19. 

William was born at Lowestoft in 1899, a son of William John and Edith Barker. He was baptised at Saint Margaret’s Church on 3 July 1901 and his family lived at Police Station Road. In 1911 his family lived at Gayes Cottage, London Road, Pakefield, and later his father lived at 4 Cooks Buildings, East Street, Lowestoft.

William enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. He joined the Lincolnshire Regiment, service number 3/19217. He was posted to France to join a battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment (possibly the 7th Battalion). He was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps, service number 146502, and served with the 17th Battalion, which was formed in France in February 1918. 

While it is not possible to state exactly where, and when, William was wounded, on 20 October 1918 the 17th Battalion were supporting a line between Inchy-Beaumont and Le Tronquoy. During that day they supported an attack on Ameral Ridge, east of Neuville (Cambrai). The war diary records that one other ranks, from Headquarters Company, died of wounds, and this may have been William.

We do know that William died of wounds at 59 Casualty Clearing Station, based at Awoingt, near Cambrai.