No.G/21347, Private, Albert Ernest BARBER
Aged 20
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Albert Ernest Barber was born in Little Downham Fen on 21st April 1897,(Ely Q2-1897 3B:539) baptised in Ely Primitive Methodist Chapel on 7th July 1897, son of Manish (Manasseh) and Sarah Jane BARBER (née CHAPMAN).
1901 census...Aged 4, he was at 100 Feet Bank, Downham, Ely with his father Manasseh BARBER [32] horsekeeper born Soham; his mother Sarah J. [29] born Littleport; brother James W [7] and sister Ethel M [2]. All the children were born in Downham. 1911 census...Aged 14, a boy on farm, he was at Little Downham Fen, with his parents, brothers James William (farm labourer), George Charles [15] farm labourer and Fred [5]; sisters Ethel May, Ada Jane [8] and Grace Alexandra [3]. All the children were born in Little Downham Fen. Also there was his grandfather, widower James William CHAPMAN 982] born Witcham. On the pension card his mother was living at East Fen Common, Soham. His elder brother James William BARBER was in the Suffolk Regiment and died just before the end of the war, in Soham. see here |
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He enlisted in Bury St Edmunds, whilst resident in Soham. The 2nd Battalion, The Queen's have a very good website for their war diary and an extensive entry for 2nd April http://qrrarchive.websds.net/PDF/QW00219170402.pdf Summarised it is that the battalion, with 21st Division on their left (west of Croisilles) and 20th Infantry Brigade on their right (south of Ecoust), together with 21st Manchesters were to attack and capture Factory Road, zero hour 5:15 am. They reached their objective by 7:30 am, 'B' Coy's officers were all casualties soon after the start. Hostile enfilading machine gun fire made life difficult for them. They were relieved in the evening and returned to Ervillers having suffered 25 OR killed and 45 wounded, 4 officers killed and 3 wounded. Local press report:- Information has been received by Mr. and Mrs. Manasseh Barber, of East Fen Common, that their youngest son,Pte.Albert Ernest Barber, of the Queen's Royal West Surrey Regt.,was killed in action on April 2nd. The late Pte. Barber, who was 20 years of age, enlisted on May 10th,1916, and was drafted to France in the following August. His Platoon Officer, writing to the parents, says:" It is with regret and deepest sympathy that I wish to inform you of your son's death. He was killed in action on the 2nd April, doing his duty like a soldier. We are all very proud of him, and the Company join me in sending you our deepest sympathy in this, you sad bereavement. He has been buried with others of his comrades who have given their lives so willingly. A cross will mark where he lies, and we will do all we can to make a nice little cemetery, so that when the war is over his people will be able to see it for themselves. He did not suffer any pain, which is a great blessing". The Regimental Chaplain writes: "You have no doubt heard by now the sad news of your son's death in action on April 2. He died immediately, and I am glad to say his body was recovered and buried, with a church service, in a little cemetery close to where he fell. Please accept my deep sympathy with you in your great loss." Mr. and Mrs. Barber have two other sons in France - George, who is in the Royal Engineers, and William, in the Suffolks.
photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
