Oliver Allan BARKER

Oliver Allan BARKER Update Details

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BARKER, Oliver Allan

Service Number:	4447
Enlisted:	3 October 1915
Last Rank:	Private
Last Unit:	52nd Infantry Battalion
Born:	Penguin, Tasmania, Australia, 19 March 1897
Home Town:	Rocky Cape, Circular Head, Tasmania
Schooling:	Penguin State School, Tasmania, Australia
Occupation:	Butcher
Died:	Killed in Action, France, 11 April 1917, aged 20 years
Cemetery:	No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Penguin to the Great War , Stanley Circular Head War Memorial

World War 1 Service

3 Oct 1915:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 4447, 12th Infantry Battalion
8 Feb 1916:	Involvement Private, 4447, 12th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Warilda embarkation_ship_number: A69 public_note: ''
8 Feb 1916:	Embarked Private, 4447, 12th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Warilda, Melbourne
21 Apr 1916:	Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 52nd Infantry Battalion
4 Nov 1916:	Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 4th Machine Gun Company
23 Dec 1916:	Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 52nd Infantry Battalion

Help us honour Oliver Allan Barker's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Chris Buckley

Oliver was the sixth of ten children of Elijah Barker (b1851 in Norfolk, Enland) and second wife Jane Hales (nee Allen; b1864 in Port Cygnet, Tasmania). Elijah immigrated in 1855, arriving in Launceston, Tasmania on board the Whirlwind. In 1887 Elijah was a Farmer (Widower with two surviving children) when he and Jane (a Widow with a son) married in Emu Bay. They settled in Penguin and raised their family.

Oliver was a Butcher at Rocky Cape in 1915 when he enlisted in the AIF. He served as a Private (Service No:477) with 52nd Infantry Battalion and 4th Machine Gun Coy and was Reported Missing, believed Killed in Action on 16 April 1917. On 29 December 1917 Oliver was posted as Killed in Action. Oliver was ' engaged with two other men making a shelter. A shell burst in the midst of them. Pte Barker's identifications could not be found, the others were identified. We were in that locality for three days later' (Statement by No 374 Sgt Rowe AG, 52nd Battalion on 9 August 1917: National Archives Australia). Oliver's effects were returned to his parents - a Testament, Cap Cover, Scarf and Booklet.

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