Clifford Barker MM

Driver

Gloucestershire Regiment 32992 & 8487 1st Battalion

Derbyshire Courier 2 June 1917

photo of Clifford Barker in WW1

Medal index card
He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.
Glouc. R. 32992

Notes
From the Lea Mills letters it seems that Clifford Barker won the Military Medal in 1916 although he did not have a celebratory event until 1918. He was a Driver at BEF Headquarters France. Records show that he was in the 94th TR (regimental number 8487) – the 94th TR was part of the 16th Battalion the Glocestershire Regiment.

Letter to J.B. Marsden-Smedley

32992 Pte C Barker
B Ward The Drill Hall, Huddersfield
22/10/18
Dear Sir
I thought you would be interested to know that I am in the above hospital suffering from exposure & the effects of Trench Fever, which I had a few months ago.
I am progressing very favourable & receive every attention & hope soon to be quite well again, being very desirous of returning to work again.
We are having a social next week in honour  of the Military Medal that is to be presented to me.
Trusting you are well
I remain
Yours faithfully
C Barker

18/11/17
France
Dear Mr & Mrs Smedley
Many thanks for the parcel which I received about three weeks ago. I am sorry I have not found time to write you a letter before, but we have been very busy, I wrote you a card two days after I received the parcel saying I had received it and glad to say nothing was broken, everything was very good, and I enjoyed it very much. I am also glad to say I am in the best of health and hoping to come on leave soon, but I cannot really say when, we have had some bad weather but it is pretty good at present I beg to be excused for such a short letter I am on duty in a few minutes and will write again soon
Yours sincerely
C Barker Headquarters 1st Glos.

[TYPED LETTER sent from J.B Marsden Smedley]
26th Oct, 1916
Dear Barker
I am very glad to hear that you are making good progress in hospital and I sincerely hope you will make an entire recovery and be able to enjoy to the full your well merited honour. I was delighted to hear that you had won the Military Medal and I hope it may not be long before you are able to return home.
Yours faithfully
Pte. C. Barker. 32992

B Ward, The Drill Hall, Huddersfield

1st April
France
Dear Sir
I am writing to thank you for the underwear you give to me, I have found it a great benefit after a long earned rest and change, I am sure Mr Swift give me the best he could and I must thank you very much. I am quite well, and at present I am having a good time, the greatest struggle of the War is now on, but I am far away from it, I returned to the same sector as I were before coming on leave, hoping you will except my kind appreciation
Yours sincerely
C Barker

[HEADED PAPER FROM ROYAL ENGINEERS STANHOPE LINE ALDERSHOT. THIS CROSSED OUT]
8487, 94th TR, 27 Hut C Coy
Chistledon Camp, Swindon, Wilts
Sir
I regret I have had very little time to acknowledge the Xmas parcel you sent to me I am enjoying the contents very much and I thank you for the same it seems a desolate place here to spend Xmas and a very cold place too, we are 5 miles from the nearest town Swindon but I am in the best of health and spirit so that is something. I am expecting very shortly to go to France where I will let you know how I am getting along through this war there are better prospects of the war coming to a finish, and I hope the day will soon come when I can get back to my work, and my home.
I remain Your Obedient Servant
Driver C Barker 8487

Newspaper reports

Derbyshire Courier, 29 May 1915
HOLLOWAY
BARKER-ROE

An interesting wedding was solemnised at Christ Church Holloway, on Whit Monday by the Rev G E Wigram, when Miss Hetty Roe, daughter of Mr and Mrs W Evans of Hollway was married to Mr Clifford Barker. som of Mr and Mrs W Barker, of Darley Dale.

Belper News, 1 June 1917
MILITARY MEDAL WON BY HOLLOWAY MAN
Private Clifford Barker, of Holloway, of the Royal Engineers, and attached to the Gloucestershires, has been awarded the Military Medal for bravery on the field in France. About four weeks ago a night raid was arranged with their party, when their officer fell wounded. Private Barker, under heavy fire and bombardment, rescued the wounded officer from his perilous position, and after some hours got him into safety, but later news announced the – officers death from three bad wounds and a broken arm. Since the raid Private Barker has been in hospital suffering from trench fever. He has now rejoined his regiment and been presented with the Military Medal. Private Barker left England early in the New Year, after eight months training at Aldershot

Derbyshire Courier, 29 May 1917
ANOTHER HOLLOWAY SOLDIER HONOURED
A few weeks ago, Mrs C Barker, of Holloway, received the news that her husband Private Clifford Barker, had been recommended for the Military Medal, and this was confirmed on Wednesday of last week, when the intimation was received that it been awarded the distinction. Private Barker, who was in the Gloucesters, won the award for bravery and gallant conduct during a night raid, during which he fetched a wounded officer from near the enemy lines under heavy fire. Owing to the fearsome bombardment that was being carried out at the time, both had to take cover in a shallow hole for four hours, but Private Barker was afterwards able to convey the wounded officer to a place of safety. The officer has since died of wounds, and Private Barker also been hospital suffering from trench fever, but is now well again and has rejoined his regiment. Enlisting in the Royal Engineers a little over a year ago he was drafted over to France last January. Two other brothers are also in the army, one being on active service and the other in hospital suffering from wounds, whilst the third has been killed in action in France.


CENSUS INFORMATION

1901: 7 Hazel View, Two Dales

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
William Barker Head 44 Nursery Labourer Darley Dale
Eliza Barker wife 41   Matlock
Wilfred Barker son 18 Nursery Labourer Matlock
Henry Barker son 17 Nursery Labourer Darley Dale
Arthur Barker son 15 Nursery Labourer Darley Dale
William Barker son 14   Darley Dale
Fred Barker son 13 Stable boy Darley Dale
Edwin Barker son 11   Darley Dale
Clifford Barker son 8   Darley Dale

RG13 piece 3266 folio 56 page 23

1911: 7 Hazel View, Two Dales

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
Salome Eliza Barker wife 51   Matlock
Arthur Barker son 25 Quarry man, labourer Darley Dale
William Barker son 24 Nursery man Darley Dale
Fred Barker son 23 Under gardener Darley Dale
Edwin Barker son 21 Lawyers labourer Darley Dale
Clifford Barker son 18 Glasshouse Assistant Darley Dale

RG14PN21204 RG78PN1262 RD439 SD2 ED6 SN37