Arthur Charles Barber
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | Not known 1894 |
| Place of Birth | Canning Mills, Western Australia |
| Death | 20 October 1975, aged 81 |
| Place of Death | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 24 years, 6 months |
| Description |
5'3½" (1.61m) tall ; 129 lbs 58.513 kg ; dark complexion ; grey eyes ; dark hair |
| Occupation | Horse driver |
| Religion | Catholic |
| Address | Unknown |
| Next of Kin | Wife , Mrs Constance Phoebe Barber |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 3079 |
| Date of Enlistment | 19 June 1916 |
| Rank | Driver |
| Unit/Formation | 5th Pioneer Battalion, 7th Reinforcement |
| Date of Embarkation | 9 November 1916 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A8 Argyllshire |
| Date of Return | 21 June 1919 ‒ 3 August 1919 |
| Ship Returned On | SS Königin Luise |
| Fate |
Wounded in Action 16 May 1918 Returned to Australia |
| Monument | None at present |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
Electoral Roll entry - 1916 26 Collie street, Fremantle, horse driver.
Arthur married Constance Phoebe Law in Fremantle during 1912. His first son Patrick died on day of his birth in 1912, while the second, George Samuel was born 2 Nov 1913. A daughter Amy Johanna followed in 1916. She died tragically on 23 May 1917.
War Service
A month after entering Blackboy Hill camp, Arthur was allocated to the 4th reinforcement draft for the 44th Battalion. With two further months training he was transferred to the 7th reinforcement draft for the 5th Pioneer Battalion, then training in the Belmont camp.
Arthur travelled to England with the Pioneer reinforcements, and spent 2 months in camp at Perham Downs preparing for France.
On 28 Mar 1917 he proceeded overseas from Folkestone, and was for a time retained at the 5th Division's base depot until called forward on 30 May 1917 to join the 5th Pioneer Battalion in the field at Vaulx-Vraucourt. He remained with the unit until he was wounded in action (gassed) on 16 May 1918, although he did have a period of unauthorised leave between 2:00pm on 17 Jan 1918 and 3:30pm the same day when he was apprehended by Military Police. The 90 minute absence was to cost him 7 days Field Punishment No.2.
Hospitalised in the 41st Stationary Hospital at Pont Remy the day after he was wounded at Bussy-les-Daours, he was released back to duty on 29 May 1918. Granted UK leave from 21 Jul 1918 until 6 Aug 1918, before being AWOL a second time, from 7:00pm on 9 Oct 1918 until 9:00am the next day. This unauthorised leave was rewarded with another 7 days Field Punishment, and the forfeiture of a day's pay.
Arthur remained in France until 14 Apr 1919 when he began the return journey via England. In the interim he was appointed as a Driver on 21 Jan 1919, and another lot of furlough meant he was absent from his unit from 9 Feb until 29 Feb 1919.
Discharged by 5th Military District on 10 Sep 1919.
Post War
Constance died on 3 Mar 1935 at Jardee, via Bridgetown. Mona Constance was born 18 Nov 1920 in Manjimup, and Betty Joyce in 4 Feb 1926. Betty died aged 4 in 1930. A son, Robert Harold was born 10 Sep 1933.
Electoral Roll entries - 1925 Marrinup, labourer; 1931 - 1940 Palgarup, teamster. married a second time in SA during 1940??
Notes
While Arthur's enlistment papers show him to be Church of England both he and Constance are buried as Catholics.