Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

From Michael Ganey

Pte John Alfred Barclay – Service Number 2330.

John Barclay was the first born to George Stephen and Isabella Barclay (Hall) in Bendigo in 1897. He was the eldest of six children. He was an 18 year-old rubber worker living in Footscray when he enlisted as part of the 5th reinforcements to the 21st Battalion on the 12th July 1915. As he was only 18 years of age he needed his father’s permission to join. His father gave this permission in a letter. He appeared not to have signed this letter.

He embarked at Melbourne on the 7th October 1915 on the Royal Mail Steamer Osterley and was eventually taken on strength with the 21st Battalion in January 1916 at Tel-El-Kebir.

He was wounded in the assault on Mouquet Farm on the 25th August 1916. His records do not indicate the type of wound but he was back in line 3 days later. He was wounded again on the 20th November1916 and this wounding was more serious and he ended up in England for treatment and his records indicate that he was wounded in the right side.

After he was recovered sufficiently he spent a protracted period in England with various base units and training battalions.He was charged with being away without leave for the first time in September 1917 and lost 10 days pay. He re-offended again in March 1918 and again in June 1918.He finally was fit enough to re-join his unit in France on the 4th September 1918.

During the battle at Montbrehain on the 5th of October he was lying in a shell hole taking cover when a H.E. shell landed in the hole, which killed him and another soldier with him instantly. The other soldier was reported to be Private Joseph Baxter also of the 21st Battalion. Not long afterwards two other dead soldiers were placed into this shell hole and all were temporarily buried with a marker placed over them. The other two soldiers were Lieutenant Stanley Bennie and later Lieutenant William Hardwick. They were all later re-buried in the Ramicourt Communal extension Cemetery. After the war as part of the ‘concentration program’ by the Imperial war graves commission, they were all re-interred in the Tincourt Cemetery.

The Independent Newspaper (Footscray) reported his death on the 26th October 1918:
Mr G. B. Barclay, 1 Huntly Street, received on Tuesday last the sad news that his son, Pte John Alfred Barclay, has been killed in action. Pte. John Alfred Barclay, who enlisted in 1915, when only eighteen years old, was a member of C company, 21st Battalion, and had over three years of active service to his credit. He was twice wounded during the fighting on the Somme, and was operated upon for appendicitis. Previous to enlisting, the young soldier, who was educated at the Hyde-street school, was employed by the Barnet Glass Rubber Co.

His family placed an In Memoriam notice in the Age on the 4th October 1919:
BARCLAY. - In loving memory of our dear son and brother, 2330, Private J. A. (Jack) Barclay, 21st Battalion, killed in action near Mont St. Quentin 5th October, 1918, age 21 years. We miss your kind and loving face, Your fond and loving care; Our life is dark without you, Jack, We miss you everywhere. Fond memories will always keep, And always feel the loss Of a loving heart now silent Neath a little wooden cross.-Inserted by his loving father, mother, sisters and brothers, Violet, Olga, Tess, George and little Don. 1 Huntly –street, Footscray.

Private John Barclay lies in Tincourt New British Cemetery in plot X.C.16. His mother choose the Headstone inscription:
Our loved one Peacefully sleeping
Sadly missed.