BARR, James Victor
| Service Number: | 4138 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 2 September 1915, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 52nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 6 June 1897 |
| Home Town: | Esk, Somerset, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Esk State School, Queensland, Australia |
| Occupation: | Telephonist |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 12 May 1918, aged 20 years |
| Cemetery: |
Adelaide Cemetery Villers-Bretonneux, France Plot III, Row I, Grave 2, Adelaide Cemetery, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Esk War Memorial, Postmaster-General's Dept Qld. WWI |
World War 1 Service
| 2 Sep 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Brisbane, Queensland | |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Jan 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 4138, 15th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Kyarra embarkation_ship_number: A55 public_note: '' | |
| 3 Jan 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 4138, 15th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Kyarra, Brisbane | |
| 12 May 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 4138, 52nd Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 4138 awm_unit: 52nd Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1918-05-12 | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement 15th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
From 52nd Battalion AIF
James BARR joined up on 2 September 1915, at the age of 18. His occupation was listed as a telephonist. He embarked in January 1916 with the 13th reinforcements to the 15th Bn on board HMAT A55 (SS Kyarra). Arriving in Egypt, he was transferred to the 47th Bn and proceeded to France in June 1916. He was hospitalised with influenza in January 1917, which was serious enough to have him evacuated to England. He eventually returned to France in October 1917, being transferred to the 52nd Battalion. He had undertaken training as a signaller and undertook further courses on using pigeons and power buzzer instruction in Febuary and March 1918. He was killed by a German shell. He is probably the last man in the 52nd to die in the field, before the unit was disbanded.
Biography
Son of John Thomas and Jane Barr of Esk, Queensland
Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
"Mrs J. T. Barr of Esk, has received a letter from Lieut. N. Cameron Croker, officer in charge of signals, relative to the death of her son Signaller J. V. Barr who was recently killed in action. The letter states that the late Signaller Barr was doing duty in the line as a signaller, and was doing excellently, when an enemy shell entered the dug out in which he and another man were work-ing. Poor old Victor received a nasty wound in the head, and died before he regained consciousness. His mate was only slightly wounded. I have returned all private effects to the base, and you should receive them in due course."
Corporal R. Verrill, of the same battalion, has also forwarded a letter, in which he states:- "It may comfort you to know that his end was sudden, and that he experienced no pain. A shell burst in the trench he was occupying, and he was badly hit in the head. He was carried to a dressing station where he died upon arrival. Next day he was buried by a Church of England clergyman of Queensland. A substantial cross was erected over the grave. We have lost in him a brave soldier and a good honourable, upright, clean living lad. He was very well liked, and his death is deplored by all who knew him." - from the Brisbane Courier 27 Jul 1918 (nla.gov.au)
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