Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Bryce Rivers Barton was born in Bourke, New South Wales, Australia, in 1899 and lived most of his childhood in Cronulla with his family of 5. His family consisted of his father, Albert Grainger Wakefield Barton, his mother, Margaret A. Cummins, his brother, Grainger Albert Barton, and his sister, Marcelene Constance Barton. 

Bryce Barton’s early childhood was not as average as other boys his age. Bryce’s father on the 20th of November 1905, had an accident at a copper mine he worked at as an engineer, where he was tragically killed  while oiling the machinery, leaving his wife a widow with 3 children to raise by herself. This on its own was disheartening for him but not too long after, his mother also fell ill and died from typhoid fever on the 30th of June, 1906. After these life changing events he still enrolled into Sydney Technical High School in 1912 and pursued his educational career. But when he turned 18 enlisted for World War I on the 22nd of April 1918.  His service number was 53915, and he served as a Private in the 1st to 15th (NSW) Reinforcements. 

Bryce Barton embarked on his service from Sydney aboard the SS Feldmarschall on the 19th of June 1918 and arrived in London on the 26th of August 1918.  The war ended shortly after he arrived in Europe, but Bryce remained in service, particularly with the clean-up efforts in Franyce after the war, until he returned to Australia on 25th September 1919. 

After the war and returning to Australia, Bryce Barton was faced with trying to reincorporate himself into society. When he was 29, on the 23rd of  July 1928 he married a woman called Winsome and lived with her on Boyle St, Narrabeen, Warringah, New South Wales. On the 13th of February 1935 he decided to create his own business, Barbond Traders Ltd, marking a new chapter of his post-war life. He spent around 5 years operating his business and working hard even with his sustained injuries from his war service. But soon later Bryce would find himself in legal troubles due to his business. In 1940, he was fined under false pretences and made a plea for leniency saying, “My right lung is practically gone, my left lung is affected. Last year I was operated on for an ulcer on my spine and have been in hospital on and off every year ever since my last service.” This plea displays how the war had affected him personally and how it has impacted his daily life. Later in 1950, his troubles escalated as he was convicted and sent to 3 years of jail time for defrauding the Commonwealth Bank of Australia of $11,000 through his business. He used his business manipulating numbers about his business income and being able to take free money from the bank.

Bryce Barton passed away on 18 January 1960 at Windsor Hospital ending his story of the challenges faced by many veterans who, after serving their country, struggled with health issues and the difficulties of returning to civilian life. Despite his struggles, Bryce's contributions during World War I and his efforts to build a life afterwards reflect a narrative of sacrifice and resilience.

References

Anonymous. 1935. Bryce Rivers Barton 1894-1945. Honour Board Project. Image 5.
Ibid
Ibid
Anonymous, 1946. Thomas Hodge-Smith 1894–1945. Records of the Australian Museum 21(7): 377–379, portrait.
Ibid
Ibid
Ibid
Anonymous. Bryce Rivers Barton Records 1894-1945. Discovering Anzacs. National Archives of Australia
Ibid
Ibid
Ibid
Anonymous, 1946. Bryce Rivers Barton 1894–1945. Records of the Australian Museum 21
Ibid

Bibliography 

Bryce Rivers Barton 1894–1945. Records of the Australian Museum 21: 377–379, portrait. [24 June 1946]. Anonymous. 
https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=3054686&isAv=N
Bryce Rivers Barton Records 1894-1945. Discovering Anzacs. National Archives of Australia Anonymous. 1935.
Bryce Rivers Barton 1894-1945. Honour Board Project. Image 5.
M.Anderson Et Al, 2018, Jacaranda Retroactive 2 Stage 5 NSW Australian Curriculum.
https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/232951