Trafford

Born at West Derby, Liverpool on the 26th August 1886, the birth being
registered during the December quarter 1886 in the West Derby R.D. - ref:
8b/526, the only son of Alfred & ???????? Barker.

1891 Census - No Trace.  No trace of his parents either.

His father married - Lydia Maria Rudd during the June quarter 1896 in the
Chorlton R.D. - ref: 8c/1340.

1901 Census - No Trace.    His step-mother - Lydia Barker was residing at
Heyes Lane, Timperley along with 2 half-siblings, his paternal grandfather
- James Barker, aged: 74, his step-mother's mother - Mary Rudd, aged: 48,
plus 4 domestic servants.   His father is not listed.

1911 Census - Hale Grove, Hale Lane, Hale.   Son - aged: 24 - occ:
Assistant Manager in Restaurant - born: Liverpool.   Head of household -
Alfred Barker - Married - aged: 50 - occ: Restaurant Managing Director -
born: Leed, yorkshire.    Also - Lydia Maria Barker - Wife - aged: 34 -
born: Ludlow, Shropshire.   Plus 4 younger half-siblings, his step-mother's
mother and 1 domestic servant. 

Cenotaph states that he was in the Royal Essex Rgt ?

Educated at Sale Grammar School and Hepworth College, Rhyl.

Formerly in the Stretford Rd Bn Manchester Territorials and re-joined at
the outbreak of war* as Private No. 2745 Manchester Rgt.   Commissioned in
April 1915 and posted to the Royal Scots.  Invalided home in March 1917 and
died in the High St. Hospital, Chorlton on Medlock, Manchester, following
an operation.   [*local newspaper states that he enlisted in May 1915 ?]

WO 374 states:- Having previously served with the 2/6th Bn. Manchester Rgt
from 1908 to 1913 and retired from the Army at his own request, time
expired, he enlisted into the 2/6th Bn Manchester Rgt on the 9th September
1914    He applied for a commission on the 25th February 1915, which was
granted into the 2/6th Bn. Royal Scots Rgt on the 13th April 1915.     His
father Alfred Barker, as next  of kin, was the grantee of his estate,
valued at £57.  6.  0d.

The General medical Officers report into his death was as follows:- he was
admitted to the High Street Hospital, Manchester on the 25th February,
suffering from a severe type of Jaundice - there was a history of Dysentry
in Egypt in November 1915 and his liver was enlarged and tender.   On the
26th February he was in great pain and tenderness over gall bladder region.
   On the 27th - the same, plus much vomiting, nothing retained by stomach
- rectal saline given.   28th and 29th February - Ditto.   On the 1st March
he was still vomiting and had intense pain over gall bladder.   During the
period 1st to 11th March, he gradually got weaker, with no lessening of the
Jaundice.   On the 12th March he had an operation for drainage of the gall
bladder, there were old standing adhesions from membrane findus ??? of the
gall bladder - no stones found, bile duct normal, no abscess.    He died on
the 14th March from Toxaemia due to the Jaundice.  Signed Captain Cowan.

Death reported in the 20/03/1917 edition of the Altrincham Guardian.

Buried at the Prestwich P.C. on the 17th  March 1917.

Listed in the Guardian Year Book - Roll of Honour for 1918.