Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

James Frederick Barker served in both the South African (Boer) War and again in WW1. First service was as a Private rising to Corporal S.N. 46, 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry, Boer war. Second service was as a Lieutenant rising to Captain (Transport Officer), Sea Transport Services AIF, WW1.

When he joined the 1st QMI in 1899 and his details were published with the rank and file in The Brisbane Courier, 18 Nov 1899, he was recorded as Private J. F. Barker, single, Allsprings, Koojarewon via Toowoomba. In the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 1st QMI, Bk 1 p. 9, it is noted he directed part of his pay to J Barker (his father), Allsprings, Koojarewon, Toowoomba. He was returned to and discharged in Brisbane on 25 Dec 1900.

He had been serving with the Queensland Defence Force, Mounted Infantry, prior to enlisting for the Boer War. After he returned and was discharged from the 1st QMI he again joined the Defence Force on permanent staff as an instructor to the Mounted Infantry at Clifton.

Following federation the various state military forces became part of the Commonwealth Military Forces. In 1902 he transferred to the NSW Lancers moving to Goulburn where he was an instructor for a section of the Australian Light Horse. He retired from the military staff in 1906 and in 1911 joined the Queensland Lands Department as a Land Ranger. He was working from Bundaberg prior to enlisting for WW1.

He enlisted again for WW1 and was initially rejected as medically unfit due to hving suffered previously from a case of Typhoid Fever. He perservered, including making an application for a commission, and was appointed an Adjutant Lieutenant with the Sea Transport Services. His appointment was for the voyage only i.e. to accompany troops aboard a vessel from embarkation in Australia to their disembarkation point and then return to Australia. He was promoted to Captain for that purpose and and was part of two voyages on different ships.

On his Attestation Papers from March and July of 1916 it was noted that; he was born at Brisbane, and was 39+ years of age; he was married and a Land Ranger with Dept. of Lands/Inspector Agricultural Bank; his N.O.K. was wife Mrs Mary Barker, Bundaberg, Qld; and he had previously served in the Boer war and on the permanent instructional staff of the military forces.

James Frederick Barker was born on 26 Aug 1876 at Brisbane Qld, a son to John Barker and Mary Barker (nee McGarry). He married Mary Christina Barth on 9 Oct 1905 in Queensland and they had 1 child while posted with the military in NSW, and a further 2 on return to Queensland. James had 3 brothers who served in the military, one serving in the Boer War and WW1, another in WW1, and another in the home services during WW1.

(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 451; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 1st QMI, Bk 1 p. 99; National Archives Australia- Boer War Dossier; National Archives Australia- WW1 service record; Obituary- The Toowoomba Chronicle And Darling Downs Gazette, 5 Nov 1946; State Library Qld Online Blog- The Barker Brothers).