Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Born  Clarence John Leslie BARKER, son of John BARKER and Emily Frances nee STOKES

Living a modest life as a labourer with his father, John Barker (whom he listed as his next of kin on his enlistment forms), Leslie Clarence Barker was among the many men who joined the military. As an unmarried man, Leslie presumably lived with his father near Klemzig. With a fair complexion, brown hair and blue eyes, his identifying features included a vaccination mark as well as great 6/6 vision. Standing at 5 foot 6, an average height for the men enlisting at the time and a weight of 137 lbs (62 kg), Leslie decided to enlist into the AIF at the young age of 22 years and 2/12 months (born on 24 May 1893) on 9 July 1915

Leslie was initially appointed as a ‘private’, the lowest entry-level rank for enlisted soldiers, for the 16th Battalion, with the service number 2779.  On 21 September 1915, Leslie embarked from Adelaide on the HMAT A15 Star of England along with other members of the 16th Battalion, towards Egypt; this marked the beginning of his arduous journey in the Great War. Upon arrival, the battalion was stationed in various locations around Egypt, such as Cairo and Heliopolis. These areas served as major training and regrouping centres for the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) following the gruelling Gallipoli Campaign. Essentially, the 16th Battalion had fought at ANZAC cove, Gallipoli, till their evacuation in December 1915; as part of the new batch, Leslie had been sent for training in Egypt in September 1915 and didn’t take part in this gruesome battle.

The heavy losses faced by the AIF during the Gallipoli campaign however, necessitated a significant reorganisation to expand their fighting strength on the Western Front. This process, known as the "doubling of the AIF," involved splitting existing battalions to form new units. As part of this reorganisation, the 16th Battalion was divided, with half of its experienced soldiers and newly arrived reinforcements forming the 48th Battalion. Consequently, the 48th Battalion was established on 3 March 1916, and Leslie was taken on strength. With the newly appointed role of a driver, Leslie’s unit was stationed in Alexandria, Egypt until 10 June 1916, when they disembarked to Marseille, France.

From the 23 July to 7 August 1916, Leslie along with the members of the 48th battalion participated in the Battle of Pozieres; his first true experience of trench warfare. This battle took place in Somme Valley, southern France. As his role of a driver, Leslie was most likely tasked with the critical responsibility of transporting essential supplies, ammunition, and wounded soldiers to and from the front lines of the battle; this involved him navigating through treacherous terrain under constant threat of artillery bombardment and enemy fire. The end of the Battle of Pozières marked the conclusion of Barker's first experience of war, and fortunately, no harm from this battle was mentioned in his records. 

Leslie's service was not without its challenges. On 22 May 1917, Leslie was hospitalised in France due to scabies. Scabies was a common affliction among soldiers during World War I, often spread through close contact and unsanitary conditions of the trenches. Despite the time lapse since the Battle of Pozières, the crowded and harsh living conditions continued to be a breeding ground for such ailments, leading to Leslie's eventual hospitalisation. Over the course of approximately 15 days, Leslie was discharged and rejoined his battalion. Unfortunately, a week later on 14 June 1917, he fell ill again and was readmitted for scabies, as he had not fully recovered. Despite these setbacks, Leslie's resilience saw him return to duty on 17 July 1917. A day later, a letter was sent to France confirming Leslie's rank as a Driver, possibly to ensure that his role and responsibilities were clearly documented and recognised, especially given the disruptions caused by his illness and hospitalisation.

Barker’s personal records for the following events weren’t recorded indicating no sort of harm or movement during the time period. However, his battalion diaries indicate the unit had suffered heavy losses during April 1917 at Bullecourt due to a failed attack on strong German positions without promised tank support. From 20 September to 25 September 1917, Leslie and his battalion participated in the Battle of Menin Road, part of the Third Battle of Ypres, facing intense fighting and significant casualties. Shortly after, from 26 September to 3 October 1917, they were involved in the Battle of Polygon Wood, capturing a heavily fortified German position.

Leslie was once again struck down by illness, a relentless adversary, and on 14 January 1918, he found himself diagnosed with appendicitis; a medical condition where the appendix becomes inflamed and infected. Shortly after, on 24 January 1918, he was moved from France to a hospital in Chatham, UK, due to the superior medical facilities available in UK, which were crucial for his recovery. After his recuperation nearly a month later on 25 February 1918, Leslie was sent to Number 4 Convalescent Depot, a recovery and rehabilitation unit of soldiers who were not yet fit to return to active duty but no longer required intensive hospital care. He marched in and out of different rehabilitation units during his time in UK. He also committed an offence and was away from duty from midnight on 25 June to 8pm on 30 June 1918 from Sandhill camp, which forfeited 12 days of Barker’s pay.  

After a full recovery, he was driven back to France on 5 July 1918, where he rejoined his French troops on 13 July 1918 after 5 months and 3 weeks. The Battle of Amiens was the first battle he took part of after joining his unit; the battle commenced on 8 August 1918, near the city of Amiens in northern France. This battle was the first major success Barker and his battalion had been part of; a day described by German General Erich Ludendorff as "the black day of the German Army". The next battle began on 21 August 1918 and focused on recapturing the town of Albert, France; the Allies successfully recaptured Albert, forcing the German forces to retreat, marking yet another significant victory. The Battle of Epéhy, fought on 18 September 1918 near the village of Epéhy in northern France, was part of the Allied efforts to breach the formidable German Hindenburg Line. The battle involved coordinated attacks by British and Australian forces, resulting in the successful capture of Epéhy. These victories marked significant progress towards weakening the German defensive positions. Throughout the key battles of Amiens, Albert, and Epéhy in 1918, Barker's role as a driver included the continuous flow of supplies, ammunition, and medical evacuations. This marked the final chapter of his journey through the war, a poignant end to his relentless struggle.

After the war, Leslie left on a leave to Paris on 8 December 1918 and returned on 26 December 1918. He then travelled back to England, where he stayed from 9 January 1919 to 25 February 1919, awaiting his return to Australia, constantly switching positions and sites across England. Leslie finally returned to Australia from England on 5 April 1919. After his return, he lived in South Australia and passed away on 29 December 1938, buried in Moonta Cemetery, South Australia. Leslie was 45 years old at the time of his death, having been born on 24 May 1893. The exact circumstances of his death remain unknown.