BARKER, Arthur
| Service Number: | 280 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry |
| Born: | 1879, place not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Paddington, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Complications following hospital surgery, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 7 October 1943 |
| Cemetery: |
Mount Thompson Memorial Gardens & Crematorium, Queensland Columbarium 3 - Section 1 |
| Memorials: |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 280, 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Mar 1900: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 280, 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 463 notes 3rd QMI embarked 1 Mar 1900 aboard Duke of Portland arriving Cape Town 2 Apr 1900. | |
| 21 Jun 1901: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 280, 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 465 notes 3rd QMI embarked 9 May 1901 at Cape Town returning to Australia aboard Morayshire arriving Sydney 7 Jun 1901 (rail to Brisbane), disbanded 21 Jun 1901. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Claude McKelvey
Arthur Barker was born in 1879, a son to John William and Sarah Ellen Barker. He was single living in Elizabeth St, Paddington in Brisbane when he enlisted in the 3rd Queensland Contingent serving in the South African (Boer) War. On his return to Australia he returned to life in Brisbane. He married Alice Maud Charlotte Simpson on 4 Jan 1905.
Around 1919 he and his wife had relocated to Currumbin Beach on the Gold Coast (as a carpenter/builder he possibly built) and ran the local Post Office and store and later owned residential flats in the area. He became a well known member of the community serving as president of the Progress Association for a number of years, and also served a term as a Alderman in the Coolangatta Town Council. He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge, Coolangatta Lodge, 298 UGL.
As a Boer War Veteran he also had an interest in the ARP organisation. He was a founding member and served as the first secretary of the Currumbin Beach Vikings Surf Life Saving Club. He was a playing member for several years of lawn bowls with the Tweed Heads and Coolangatta Club, of which his wife served as president for several years.
(sources: AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 472; Arthur's Beach Store- Save Currumbin, Historic Currumbin; Obituary- Tweed Daily 9 Oct 1943).
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