No.8423, Private, James William BARBER
Aged 24
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James William Barber was born in Little Downham Fen (Ely Q1-1894 3B:555), on 21st April 1897, baptised in Ely Primitive Methodist Chapel on 20th February 1894,
son of Manish (Manasseh) and Sarah
Jane BARBER (née CHAPMAN).
1901 census...Aged 7, 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 Albert Ernest [4] and sister Ethel M [2]. All the children were born in Downham. 1911 census...Aged 17, a farm labourer, he was at Little Downham Fen, with his parents, brothers Albert Ernest (boy on farm), 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 his brother's pension card his mother was at East Fen Common, Soham. James' pension card has not been found. His younger brother Albert Ernest BARBER was in the Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment) and was killed in action in 1917 in France see here |
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He enlisted in Ely on the 29th January 1912. The 1st battalion were in Sudan at the outbreak of war, returning to UK on the 23rd October 1914 and then arriving at Le Havre in January 1915. The register of Soldiers Personal Effects records he died of pneumonia at Felixstowe. It is likely that he was evacuated, sick, to UK and transferred to the 3rd Battalion.
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