William Barge
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | c1895 |
| Place of Birth | Manchester, England |
| Death | 1 June 1918 |
| Place of Death | near Albert, France |
| Age at Enlistment | 21 |
| Description |
5' 5½" (1.66m) tall ; 156 lbs 70.76 kg ; dark complexion ; grey eyes ; black hair |
| Occupation | Farm labourer |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | c/- Millrace Farm, Beenup SWR, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr William Barge (in UK) |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 228 |
| Date of Enlistment | 8 March 1915 |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Unit/Formation | 28th Battalion, B Company / 7th Brigade, 2nd Division |
| Date of Embarkation | 9 June 1915 ‒ 30 June 1915 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A11 Ascanius |
| Fate |
Wounded in Action 31 May 1916, France Killed in Action 1 Jun 1918 near Albert, France. |
| Monument |
Armadale War Memorial (Beenup panel) Armadale and Districts Roll of Honour ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford) Australian War Memorial |
| Medals |
1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
William as a 16 year old embarked in London on 18 Nov 1911 aboard the SS Armadale as an assisted migrant, arriving in Fremantle on 1 Jan 1912. Given his age would not have been put down for this, his date of birth is more likely 1895, and hence at enlistment he was more likely 20 years old.
War Service
William embarked for Gallipoli from Alexandria on HMT Ivernia on 4 Sep 1915, and on 10 Sep 1915 he transferred to the HMT Sarnia for the journey from Mudros harbour to Anzac Cove. He returned to Alexandria via Mudros on 10 Jan 1916. After a period in the canal defences, the battalion was sent to the Western Front and it disembarked in Marseilles, France on 21 March 1916.
On 31 May 1916 while in the front line in the Bois Grenier area east of Fleurbaix, William was wounded in the arm and leg, the first of our local boys to be a casualty on the Western Front. He was treated by the 6th Field Ambulance, and the 8th Casualty Clearing Station on his way to Ontario Military Hospital in England.
He rejoined the battalion on 3 Mar 1917 in the front line near Warlencourt and received promotions to Lance Corporal and Corporal soon afterwards. He was absent from the battalion from 2 Feb to 29 Feb 1918 with illness.
On 1st Jun 1918 the 28th Battalion was being relieved from the front line, when B Company was observed by an enemy plane which dropped two bombs on them, killing 27 and wounding another 40, together with three horses. As this is the only action logged in the Battalion War Diary for that date, we might assume that William was one of the unfortunate 27 who died.
1 Jun 1918 Buried in Plot I, Row D, grave 5 FRANVILLERS COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION. Son of William and Susan Barge, of 45, Boscombe Grove Rd., Bournemouth, England. Native of Moor Farm, Weymouth, England
"...Was wounded in France, returned to duty and then fell ill of diphtheria."[1] (Brother living in Byford and Sister in Perth)
Originally William was reported as wounded, but this was corrected in the 413th Casualty List. "WESTERN AUSTRALIA. ROLL OF HONOUR 413th CASUALTY LIST. The 413th casualty list was released by the Censor yesterday. KILLED IN ACTION. ...... Cpl Barge, William (England), previously reported wounded[2]
Post War
The West Australian Tue 1 Jun 1920 has an 'In Memoriam Notice' inserted by his brother Ebby, but this seems to have been missed by military authorities.
"The Military authorities are desirous of communicating with the next-of-kin of deceased soldiers, who were formerly resident at the addresses given hereunder: No 228 Corporal W. Barge, 28th Battalion, Mr W Barge (father), Coombe Farm, Dorset, England.[3]
Report of a marriage in Armadale of Ebby (brother of William) to May Gordin (parents Mr & Mrs A.J. Gordin; grandmother Mrs H. Mead of Beenup)[4]
No records of a marriage or children for William found.
References
- ↑ "The Drill of the Foot-Hills" (PDF) (1917). Western Australia. Mar 1917. p. 14. Retrieved 16 May 2017 – via State Library of Western Australia.
- ↑ "WESTERN AUSTRALIA.". The West Australian. XXXIV, (5,067). Western Australia. 2 July 1918. p. 5. Retrieved 18 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "NEXT-OF-KIN.". The West Australian. XXXVI, (5,710). Western Australia. 2 August 1920. p. 9. Retrieved 18 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "WEDDINGS". Sunday Times (Perth) (1171). Western Australia. 13 June 1920. p. 7 (Second Section). Retrieved 18 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.