WILLIAM BARKER
Born: 8th April 1882, at 3, Great Gipping Street, Ipswich.
Baptised on the 10th May 1882, at St. Peter’s Church, Ipswich – family home at 3, Great Gipping Street, Ipswich.
Died: 3rd May 1919; age 37; died of Graves’ disease and Gastro Enteritis, at the Ipswich and East Suffolk Hospital, Suffolk.
Informant of the death was William’s brother, Sydney Barker, of 9, Spring Road, Ipswich.
Residence: 9, Spring Road, Ipswich.
Occupation: Master Builder.
Rank: Corporal; Service Number: 69716.
Regiment: Tank Corps Depot.
The funeral service was held on Thursday, 8th May, at St. Helen’s Church, before burial at Ipswich Old Cemetery.
Grave Reference:
X.3.6.
Ipswich.
Relatives Notified & Address: Eldest son of Everett Barker, of 9, Spring Road, Ipswich & the late William Barker.
CENSUS
1891 9, Arthur Street, Ipswich.
William was 8 years old and living with his parents, siblings & maternal aunt.
William Barker, 29, a Bricklayer, born Ipswich.
Everett Vetina Barker (nee Palmer), 30, born Ipswich.
Matilda Barker, 6, born Ipswich.
Rosina Barker, 4, born Ipswich.
Arthur Barker, 1, born Ipswich.
Ellen Palmer, 16, a Staymaker – Dress, born Ipswich.
1901 23, Pottery Street, Ipswich.
William was 18 years old, a Bricklayer. He was living with his parents & siblings.
William, 39, a Bricklayer.
Everett, 40.
Rose, 14, a Dressmaker Apprentice.
Arthur, 11.
Sydney Barker, 6, born Ipswich.
Dorothy Barker, 2, born Ipswich.
1911 42, Tovells Road, Ipswich.
William was 28 years old, a Bricklayer. He was living with his widowed mother & siblings.
Everett, 50.
Arthur, 21, a Bricklayer.
Sydney, 16, an Apprentice – Gas Fitting.
Dorothy, 12.
William’s sister, Maltilda Barker, died from an excessive attack of diarrhoea on the 5th September 1897, at the family home, 23, Pottery Street, Ipswich, aged 13 years and was buried on the 8th September at Section S, Ipswich Old Cemetery.
William’s father, William Barker, died on the 13th November 1905, at his home, 42, Tovell’s Road, Ipswich, and was buried on the 16th November, in the grave of his daughter, Maltilda Barker, at Section S, Ipswich Old Cemetery.
Probate to Everett Barker – mother.
The Royal Tank Corps
The Tank Corps was formed from the Heavy Branch MGC (Machine Gun Corps), which first converted to armoured cars. Tanks were a new secret weapon designed to break the stalemate of trench warfare on the Western Front. Each Tank Battalion had a complement of 32 officers and 374 men. On 15th September 1916, 36 Mark 1 tanks were first used in the Somme offensive, using tanks of C and D Companies. Many lessons were learned from little gain and heavy casualties. The first real success came in 1917 at the Battle of Cambrai, France, with a more coordinated attack and large gains.
4 Victoria Crosses were awarded to the Tank Corps throughout the war.
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