Barker Charles Arthur 5290

SAPPER CHARLES ARTHUR BARKER

5290 – No. 3 Company Reinforcements

Born in Richmond, Victoria in 1874, Charles Arthur Sweeney Barker was the son of Charles Robert and Ellen (nee McGill) Barker.

He gave his address as Kalgoorlie, Western Australia (WA) when he completed the application to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force at Kalgoorlie WA on 5 March 1916. A medical examination on the same day found him to be fit for active service and he signed the Attestation Paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad and took the Oath to ‘well and truly serve’ at Blackboy Hill, near Perth WA on 14 March 1916.

Charles was 5ft 6in tall and weighed 142lbs with a fair complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. He stated his age as 41 years and 11 months. He was single and listed his profession as a Dealer. He named as his Next of Kin his father Charles Robert Barker of Kew, Victoria.

Initially a Private at 54 Depot, he was transferred to Miners Reinforcements at their Seymour Camp in Victoria on 10 May 1916 and, after training, embarked with 172 reinforcements for the Tunnelling Companies on the Western front from Melbourne, Victoria on 30 September 1916 on board HMAT A23 Suffolk.

Disembarking at Plymouth, England on 2 December 1916, William was marched in to No.3 Camp, Parkhouse on 3 December 1916.

The next entry on his records is for 4 April 1917 when he marched out to No.1 Com. Depot Perham Downs from Aust. Details, Perham Downs. He marched in to Infantry Draft Depot at Perham Downs from the Drafting Depot on 18 April 1917 and over the next few months moved from camp to camp within England.

Although there are no details on his move to France, nor record of his being in any camps in France, a medical report of 26 November 1917 found that his condition originated in France in the winter of 1917 and noted “This man is over the age limit. Towards the end of last winter he went to France. Had rheumatic pains in shoulders, neck & back. None felt previously.” The report noted that the condition was due to active service, in particular the climate, and made the further comment “Complains of rheumatic pains in neck, back and shoulders. Heart normal. Arteries not thickened. Blood pressure feels above normal. He looks his age.”

Charles Barker was returned to Australia due to ‘premature senility’. He voyaged on board the Balmoral Castle leaving London on 1 Feb 1918 and disembarking at Fremantle on 18 March 1918. He was admitted to No.8 Australian General Hospital on the same day where a medical examination found him to be suffering rheumatic pains. He was deemed permanently unfit for active service and temporarily unfit for home service.

He was discharged from the A.I.F. on 4 April 1918, entitled to wear the British War Medal (13921).