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 Cemetery & Crematorium Zone A Presbyterian Section 05E Grave 222 |
| Memorials: | Granville Rechabite Soccer Players Pictorial Honour Roll, Newcastle Rechabite General Gordon Tent No 20 Honor Roll |
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.
Submitted 9 December 2019 by Maxwell HILL
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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