BARKER, Job
| Service Number: | 375 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 21 December 1915, West Maitland, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 35th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Wallsend, New South Wales, Australia, 17 May 1896 |
| Home Town: | Abermain, Cessnock, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Wheeler |
| Died: | Natural causes, Cessnock, New South Wales, Australia, 14 September 1969, aged 73 years |
| Cemetery: |
Newcastle Memorial Park (fmly Beresfield Crematorium) |
| Memorials: | Abermain War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 21 Dec 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 375, West Maitland, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 May 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 375, 35th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Benalla embarkation_ship_number: A24 public_note: '' | |
| 1 May 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 375, 35th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Benalla, Sydney | |
| 30 Dec 1917: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 375, 35th Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Job had actually written a letter, dated 4th September 1917, to the O.C. ‘B’ Company, 35th Battalion, AIF.
“Sir, I wish to respectfully bring under your notice the present circumstances of my continued absence from Australia, since my enlistment in 1915. My father has been killed (July 1917) whilst serving in the 34th Battalion in France. My brother 35th Battalion, was also killed on the 7th June 1917.
I am now the only surviving support to my widowed mother, who is living alone with a young brother 14 years of age. Since the departure of my father on active service the health of my mother has not been good, and I anticipate the news of the death of my father and brother, will have a further bad effect on her health. I would desire, if it were possible, to return to Australia to enable me to better provide and care for my mother.
Thanking you in anticipation of favourable consideration and any action you may be able to take on my behalf.”
This letter was forwarded up through the chain of command, and was strongly supported by the OC of the 35th Battalion, Major J. Dowell, who wrote, “The statements made by the applicant are in my opinion, correct. I knew his father as a Private in the 34th Battalion, and I know that the applicant’s mother, Mrs. Annie Barker of Abermain, NSW, is dependant on her surviving son. She has also been an invalid for some time, and has now lost her husband, and one son, killed in action with this Brigade. I would be glad if the application could receive favourable consideration in view of the special circumstances of the case.”
The application was recommended by the OC of the 9th Brigade AIF, and eventually recommended by Major-General Sir John Monash, the Commander of the 3rd Division, signed on the 24th September 1917, only three weeks after Job Baker’s initial request.
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