S12319
BARBER, Norman
| Service Number: | 250 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 13 January 1916, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 43rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Prospect, South Australia, 23 September 1896 |
| Home Town: | Prospect (SA), Prospect, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farm labourer |
| Died: | Natural causes (lung cancer), Belair, South Australia, 10 July 1987, aged 90 years |
| Cemetery: |
Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia General Section AA, Path K, Allotment 820 with his beloved wife Ivy May and son Brian Barber |
| Memorials: | Adelaide Commissioner of Public Works Roll of Honour, Prospect Roll of Honour A-G WWI Board |
World War 1 Service
| 13 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 250, Adelaide, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Jun 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 250, 43rd Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Jun 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 250, 43rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Afric, Adelaide | |
| 31 Jul 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 250, 43rd Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , GSW | |
| 4 Jul 1918: | Honoured Military Medal, Le Hamel - Blueprint for Victory, Courage and gallantry | |
| 30 Jun 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Corporal, 250, 43rd Infantry Battalion |
Military Medal Citation
On the 4th July 1918 during the attack on HAMEL, when his Platoon Commander and Platoon Sergeant were wounded, Corporal BARBER took charge of the Platoon and showed great initiative under very trying circumstances.
On fire being opened on his Platoon by an enemy Machine gun, he immediately dashed forward and succeeded in putting the crew out of action with bombs, thus enabling his Platoon to reach their final objective.
His courage and gallantry were undoubtedly the means of saving the situation in his vicinity, and he set an excellent example of devotion to duty to the other members of his Platoon.
Submitted 5 February 2016 by Faithe Jones
Biography
Son of C J and Sarah BARBER
Biography contributed by Heathfield High School
Norman Barber was born in Adelaide on the 23rd of September 1896.
He was a member of the Church of England and lived on Alexander Street in Prospect, he also worked as a farm labour. Norman was 5' 4.5" tall and weighed 122 lbs. His mother, Sarah Barber, lived at the same address as him and was listed as his next of kin. Before enlisting in January 1916, Norman had served two years in the Senior Cadets. He had previously been rejected for enlistment in the Citizen Military Forces due to his height.
At the time he enlisted, he was single and 18.11 years old. On January 13th 1916, he enlisted as a Private with B Company of the 43rd Battalion.
Barber embarked from Adelaide on June 9th, 1916 aboard HMAT A19 Afric as part of his unit. At this time, he held the rank of private within the battalion. He was promoted 18th july 1917 to Lance Corporal
On July 31, 1917, during the Battle for Pozières, Norman Barber was wounded suffering from a gunshot wound.
On August 2, 1917, the person's next of kin was advised of Norman’s wounded status.
On August 16, 1917, Norma’s next of kin was advised that he was in the hospital.
On October 15, 1918, Norman’s next of kin was advised that the person was in the hospital again.
On January 15, 1919, Norman’s next of kin was advised that the person was seriously ill.
On January 28, 1919, his next of kin was advised that he was dangerously ill.
On January 30, 1919, his next of kin was advised that his condition was stationary.
On February 1, 1919, Norman’s next of kin was advised that his's condition was improving.
On February 15, 1919, his next of kin was advised that he was progressing favorably.
29/1/1919 G.S.W. Left leg, blood poisoning, getting over the effects of the drug, but still in bed and progressing favourably.
Military Medal
'On the 4th of July 1918, during the attack on HAMEL, when his Platoon Commander and Platoon Sergeant were wounded, Corporal BARBER took charge of the Platoon and showed great initiative under very trying circumstances. On fire being opened on his Platoon by an enemy machine gun, he
immediately dashed forward and succeeded in putting the crew out of action with bombs, thus enabling his Platoon to reach their final objective. His courage and gallantry were undoubtedly the means of saving the situation in his vicinity, and he set an excellent example of devotion to duty to the other members of his Platoon.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 23
He was injured on the Western Front from a gunshot wound on July 31, 1917, during the Battle for Pozières. Once he recovered he returned to the field and was promoted to Tempororay Corporal 26th May 1918, later confirmed as Corporal 10th September 1918
He survived the war and on June 30, 1919, he was discharged from the AIF.
His place of death was in Belair, South Australia due to lung cancer. He was buried in was Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia, Australia
Cemetery details: General Section AA, Path K, Allotment 820 with his beloved wife Ivy May and son Brian Barber
Click images to start slideshow.