BARKE Edwin James Reuben

Edwin James Reuben Barke was the third of five children born to German-born father, Gustave Albert Christian Barke and English-born mother, Frances Alice Yates. He was a young man of 21 years when he enlisted for the Great War on 01 March 1917, listing his mother, who was living at Gray Street, West Sydney, New South Wales, at the time, as his next of kin. Edwin stated he had 3 years’ experience with the Citizens Forces in Queensland, and the rest of the Attestation Paper was incomplete. Dated 31 March 1917, another Attestation Paper was filled in to completion, enlisting at Armidale, New South Wales, Australia. Going for his medical the following day at Glen Innes, he was described as 21 years and 3 months. Edwin was 5 feet 9 ½ inches (176.5cm) tall and weighed 11 stones 7 pounds (73kg). He had a fair complexion with grey eyes and fair hair. Edwin also sported a distinctive scar on his forehead and another scar on the inner side of his left wrist. His occupation was an analytical chemist at the time. He noted his religion as Church of England. Edwin was a single man and listed his father, who was living at and publican of the Railway Hotel, Pomona, Queensland at the time, as his next of kin.

From 05 April 1917, Edwin was a Private and Trooper of 7 L.H.R. (Light Horse Regiment) at the Royal Sydney Showgrounds. On 11 June 1917, Trooper Edwin J. R. Barke of 7 L.H.R. boarded the HMAT “Port Lincoln” at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia to serve his King and country. Edwin disembarked Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 19 June and was sent to the Isolation Camp at Seymour. He embarked Melbourne on 02 November 1917 aboard HMAT “Commonwealth” only to disembark Fremantle, Western Australia some days later. He failed to re-embark the “Commonwealth” on 09 November. On 24 November 1917, Edwin boarded the HMAT “Canberra” at Fremantle and was placed under stoppages of £6.16.5 for loss of equipment. He was appointed V.O. Corporal on 20 December, but arrived at Suez, Egypt and admitted to Govt. Hosp. (Government Hospital) with acute bronchial pneumonia the following day, when his rank was reverted to Trooper. On 16 January 1918, Edwin was transferred to 2 Stat. Hosp. (Stationary Hospital) at Moascar. He was transferred to the Rest Camp at Port Said on 31 January.

On 20 February 1918, Edwin marched out of the Rest Camp and arrived at Rfts. Camp (Reinforcements Camp) the same day. The following day, he was made E.D.P. Cpl. (Extra Depot Corporal) and promoted to E.D.P. Sgt. (Extra Depot Sergeant) on 06 March 1918. Ten days later, Edwin’s rank was reverted to Trooper once again. In early May, he marched out to 2 L.H.T.R. (Light Horse Training Regiment), where he was made A/Cpl (Acting Corporal) without pay from 19 May to 23 May, when he was transferred to 7 L.H.R. and reverted to Trooper. On 30 May 1918, Edwin was admitted to 65 C.C.S. (Casualty Clearing Station) at Jerusalem with scabies. He was transferred on 05 June to 34 C.C.S. where he remained until he was discharged to duty on 22 June. He stayed a couple of weeks with 2 L.H.T.R. before joining 7 L.H.R. in the field on 11 July 1918.

Edwin was admitted to 2 L.H.F.A. (Light Horse Field Ambulance) on 14 August 1918 with malaria and was transferred to 66 C.C.S. at Jerusalem the following day. He spent the next 2 months being transferred from hospital to hospital until 06 October 1918, when he was admitted to Port Said Rest Camp. Edwin marched out of the rest camp on 23 October and rejoined his regiment on 03 November 1918. On 27 November, Edwin embarked Kantara aboard H.T. “Huntscastle” to proceed to the Dardanelles.

He disembarked Port Said aboard the “Norman” on 22 January 1919 and was appointed L/Cpl (Lance Corporal) on 30 January. In late February, Edwin was detached to Cairo to be part of a boxing tournament. A week later, he marched in to the Depot Stores at Ghezireh and remained there until 23 March, when he was admitted to 14 A.G.H. (Aust. General Hospital) at Abbassia with malaria. On 15 April 1919, Edwin embarked Port Said aboard H.T. “Warwickshire” as he was invalided home. He disembarked Australia on 28 May 1919 and was discharged from the A.I.F. medically unfit on 19 September 1919.

Edwin married Adelaide Alice Gray, second child of Gilbert Steel Gray and Florence Ellen Forrest, on 06 January 1922 at Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. He served as an officer during the Second World War from 1939 to 1946 and also received a Mention In Despatches award.

N.B. A newspaper clipping states that Edwin was wounded in both WW1 and WW2. There is no evidence in his records that he was wounded during WW1.

• Egypt
• Western Front