SECOND LIEUTENANT GEORGE FREDERICK BARKER, 2ND BATTALION ESSEX REGIMENT KILLED IN ACTION IN FRANCE ON MAY 12TH, 1917, was the only son of the late Mr Frederick J. Barker and Mrs Kate Barker of Hazeldene, Rose Valley, Brentwood, and was aged 33.   He had lived practically all his life in the Brentwood area, where he was well known.  A fine sportsman and athlete, he had played for Essex at football and was a fine allrounder with Brentwood Cricket Club.  He was a defender in the victorious South Weald F.C. side of 1909-10 when they won the Essex Senior Cup - the most prestigious cup competition in the county of Essex.   Mr J J Read, President of South Weald F.C. and a fine sportsman in his own right representing both Brentwood and Essex Cricket Clubs, commenting on his club's cup victory, remarked that he knew all of the team, referring to various players in whom he had taken a particular interest through long knowledge of them.  George Barker, the last of whom, if he had time, he hoped to see playing cricket for his county. 

A schoolteacher before the war, he was granted a commission in December 1914 and gazetted to the Essex regiment.  He went out to the Dardanelles and was invalided home with rheumatic fever.  For some time, he was a physical instructor and director of bayonet training for a battalion at home. During this time, he was promoted to Lieutenant.  In March 1917, he re-joined his battalion and went to the Front.  He married Miss Lydia Horwood of Double House, Aldborough Hatch, Ilford, in September 1915.  

Source: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/

 

                        

Essex Newsman | Saturday 26 May 1917 | ROLL OF HONOUR | BARKER. – Killed in action, May 12, 1917. George Frederick Barker, Sec.-Lieut., Essex Regt. the beloved and only son of Mrs K. Barker Hazeldene, Rose Valley, Brentwood, and beloved husband of Lydia. M. Barker Double House, Aldborough Hatch, Ilford. 

Source: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/

 

                            

ST NICOLAS BRITISH CEMETERY | In memory of Second Lieutenant GEORGE FREDERICK BARKER 2nd Bn., Essex Regiment, who died on 12 May 1917 Age 33. Husband of L. L. Barker, of Double House, Aldborough Hatch, Ilford, London. Remembered with Honour. ST. NICOLAS BRITISH CEMETERY | I. F. 23. | COMMEMORATED IN PERPETUITY BY THE COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES

Ste. Catherine and St. Nicolas are villages and districts in the Department of the Pas-de-Calais, adjoining the city of Arras on the north side. Ste. Catherine lying to the west, and St. Nicolas to the east of the N37 road to La Targette and Souchez. St. Nicolas British Cemetery lies along a footpath to the south of the Rue D'Enfer, which joins the road to Roclincourt.  From March 1916 to the Armistice, the village of St. Nicolas was occupied by Commonwealth forces, and for much of that time, it was within the range of German artillery fire. The cemetery was started in March 1917 and used by the divisions and field ambulances stationed there until October 1918. St Nicolas British Cemetery contains 364 First World War burials. The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.  Second Lieutenant George Frederick Barker is laid to rest with 360 other British casualties in St. Nicolas Cemetery.  

Source: https://www.cwgc.org/

 

                                         

                                   ILFORD WAR MEMORIAL | CHILDREN’S WING | ERECTED  A.D. 1927 | PANEL 1 | BARKER. G.F. 

IN LOVING MEMORY OF THE ILFORD MEN WHO DIED IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918.  THESE ARE THE DEAD THAT DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE AND ENJOY LIFE MORE ABUNDANTLY | GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS

Source: https://redbridgefirstworldwar.org.uk/

 

The Roll of Honour on the Club's website describes how the outbreak of the First World War 'seriously curtailed' the Club's activities and commemorates four of the first members of the Club to lose their lives whilst on active service: Lieutenants: George Frederick Barker, 'Jervis' Johnson, Dougal Campbell Clifford Sewell and Hamilton Henry Travers