Lawrence Walter (Laurie) BARBER MM

BARBER, Lawrence Walter

Service Number: 3275
Enlisted: 26 March 1917, Sydney, NSW
Last Rank: Sergeant
Last Unit: 36th Infantry Battalion
Born: Granville, Sydney, NSW, 19 February 1894
Home Town: Granville, Parramatta, New South Wales
Schooling: Granville and Burwood Primary Schools
Occupation: Fireman / Soldier
Died: Suddenly, Quirindi Hospital, NSW, 9 September 1934, aged 40 years
Cemetery: Rookwood Cemeteries & Crematorium, New South Wales
Zone A Presbyterian Section 05E Grave 222
Memorials: Granville Rechabite Soccer Players Pictorial Honour Roll, Newcastle Rechabite General Gordon Tent No 20 Honor Roll
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World War 1 Service

26 Mar 1917: Enlisted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 3275, 36th Infantry Battalion, Sydney, NSW
2 Aug 1917: Involvement Sergeant, 3275, 36th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Miltiades embarkation_ship_number: A28 public_note: ''
2 Aug 1917: Embarked Sergeant, 3275, 36th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Miltiades, Sydney

WW1 L W Barber MM

the details provided are taken from the book "just soldiers" written by WO1 Darryl Kelly published 2004. Lawrence Walter Barber was born Feb 1894. He was raised in Granville, suburb of Sydney. Joined the Military Cadet scheme when he was aged 12. Enlisted to 20th Bn Militia in 1912 and by late 1914 he had been promoted to RSM of that Unit. He enlisted in 36th Bn as a substantive Sgt in March 1917. Arrived in France Feb 1918. 12th April 1918 he was the Pl Sgt of an outpost which was heavily gunned, with him the only survivor. He manned the machine gun and withheld the German advance until reinforcements arrived. For this action he was awarded the Military Medal. In Aug 1918 he was severely gassed and was repatriated to Australia. The effects of the gas required frequent periods in hospitals until his death 9lth Sept 1934. No details were written re parents and other family.

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Biography contributed by Faithe Jones

Son of the late Frederick and Jemima BARBER, Good Street, Granville, NSW

Husband of Catherine E BARBER, father of Bruce and Ronald

Military Medal

'On the 12th April, 1918, in front of HANGARD WOOD he was senior N.C.O. with a lewis gun crew under the command of Lieutenant COLLYER which held No. 1 post in the front line, protecting the British Right Flank and adjoining the French Left. The French Post about 20 yards away was held by a machine gun section. A quarter of an hour before the intense artillery barrage by the enemy opened on our front line and the WOOD, Sergeant BARBER was left in charge of the post whilst Lieutenant COLLYER went to confer with the French Commander. After the barrage opened Sergeant BARBER was informed by the French that Lieutenant COLLYER had been killed, and that the enemy were advancing through the WOOD and the village, and at the French Commander's request he took the gun out of the post with some of his crew and assisted the French in the open to drive back the enemy who had attempted to cut off the French Post from its flank. He personally reported his action to 2nd Lieutenant BRADFORD who was in command of No. 2 Post, though the whole of the flank was at that time under a continuous hail of bullets from machine guns and rifles besides shells. Later in the day No. 1 Post was subjected to concentrated fire of 5.9 shells from the enemy batteries which swept the western end of the WOOD, and Sergeant BARBER remained there until all his men had been killed or wounded and kept his gun in action all the time. His personal example of courage and resourcefulness undoubtedly inspired confidence in the French Left Flank when it was in grave danger and helped to avert disaster and ultimately restore the line.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 15
Date: 4 February 1919

 

SERGEANT LAURIE BARBER, M.M., son of Mrs. F. Barber, Good-street, and the late F.W. Barber, of Granville. The undermentioned  letter describes how Sergeant Barber won the Military Medal: —
'Headquarters, — Battalion, A.I.F., 26th May, 1918. The following is an extract from Routine Order No. 484, dated 25th May,  1918.: — ' Under authority delegated to him, the Corps Commander has awarded the Military Medal to No. 3275, Sergeant Laurence Walter Barber, — Batt., for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On the 12th April, 1918, in front of Hangard  Wood, Sergeant Barber was senior N.C.O. with a Lewis gun crew under the command of Lieutenant Collyer, which held No. 1 post in the front line, protecting the British right flank and adjoining the French left. The French post, about 20 yards away was held  by a machine gun section. A quarter of an hour before the intense artillery barrage by the enemy opened on our front line  and  the wood, Sergeant Barber was left in charge of the post whilst Lieut. Collyer went to confer with the French commander. After  the barrage opened, Sergeant Barber was informed by the French that Lieut. Collyer had been killed, and that the enemy were  advancing through the wood and the village, and at the French Commander's request he took the gun out of the post with some  of his crew and assisted the French in the open to drive back the enemy who had attempted to cut off the French post from the  flank. He personally reported his action to 2nd Lieut. Bradford, who was in command of No. 2 Post, though the whole of the flank  was at that time under a continuous hail of bullets from machine guns and rifles, besides shell fire. Later in the day No. 1  Post was subjected to concentrated fire of 5.9 shells from the enemy batteries, which swept the western end of the wood, and  Sergeant Barber remained there until all his men had been killed or wounded, and kept his gun in action all the time. His  personal example of courage and resourcefulness undoubtedly inspired confidence in the French left flank when it was in grave danger, and helped to avert disaster and ultimately restore the line. The Corps' Divisional and Brigade Commanders desire that their congratulations be conveyed to the recipient. The Commanding Officer also desires to congratulate 'Sergeant Barber.'

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