Cecil Barker worked as a fitter in the Hillside Railway workshops before volunteering for the army in 1914. He was admitted to a hospital ship off the Gallipoli peninsula on May 5th, 1915, and it would have been not long before that when he was wounded with a Turkish bullet in his arm. In early May Cecil's unit, the Otago Infantry Battalion, attempted to advance from its landing beaches and met very strong resistance.
Private Cecil Barker is the eldest son of Mr George Barker, Port Chalmers, and is 26 years of age. He was born in Melbourne, and educated in the Port Chalmers District High School. On leaving school he served his apprenticeship as a fitter with the firm of Stevenson and Cook, and afterwards at the Hillside Workshops, where he was employed until the outbreak of war, when he left in the Main Expeditionary Force. Private Barker was one of the wounded who were sent to England for treatment. A letter from the High Commissioner states that he is suffering from a wound in the upper arm, which is considered serious, but he is improving. -Evening Star, 17/8/1915.
Private Cecil Barker, of the Otago Battalion (wounded), is the eldest son of Mr and Mrs George Barker, of Port Chalmers. He always took a keen interest in military matters, and for some years previous to the outbreak of the war was closely associated with the Navals in Dunedin. He left for the seat of war in the First Contingent, and was in the landing at the Dardanelles. Private Barker was struck by a bullet on the upper part of the left arm, causing a dangerous wound. He was at once transferred to a hospital ship and sent to England. For a time he was in the Birmingham Hospital, where his injuries were found to be so severe as to necessitate the amputation of the lacerated limb. A few days ago advice was received that Private Barker was in the Plymouth Convalescent Hospital. He is expected to return to the Dominion about Christmas. -Otago Witness, 29/9/1915.
Under the heading: “Coming and Going,” the “New Zealand Railway Review” says — “Several more of the boys and men, married at that, have left loved ones, homes, and billets to don the uniform, and, by the way, pay for buttons, badges, spurs, etc., and be bled generally by canteen holders and shopkeepers before they bleed for their country. Several others have returned to their homes and having tasted of the Sweets (?) of war, are not anxious to return for more. Cecil Barker minus an arm, Cecil Nicholson with punctured lungs, W. Kitto (who had to resign to get away), with a lump of shrapnel in his foot, and others in a questionable state of health, all deserving honour, and a fair billet. The department’s part of the war starts here. Will it be loyal to those loyal men? -NZ Times, 1/5/1916.
FOR KING AND COUNTRY.
DEATHS.
BARKER. — On November 23rd, at Dunedin Hospital, Cecil Barker, 8/733, Main Body, the dearly beloved eldest son of George and Annie Barker, Wickliffe terrace, Port Chalmers; aged 28 years. His duty done. -Evening Star, 23/11/1918.
Cecil Barker, who died this morning, was a returned soldier, who lost his arm fighting on Gallipoli. He was the eldeet son of Mr and Mrs George Barker, of Port Chalmers. -Evening Star, 23/11/1918.
FUNERAL NOTICE.
The Friends of the late CECIL BARKER (No. 8/753, Main Body) are respcctfully requested to attend his Funeral, which will leave his parents' Residence, Wickliffe terrace, Port Chalmers, THIS DAY (MONDAY), November 25, at 3 p.m., for the Port Chalmers New Cemetery.
LOVE BROS., Undertakers. -Otago Daily Times, 25/11/1918.
Private Cecil Barker, a main body man, was accorded a military funeral yesterday afternoon at Port Chalmers. He succumbed to the epidemic. Private Barker lost an arm at Gallipoli. The Rev. S. H. Peryman conducted the burial service at the Port Chalmers cemetery, and Mr J. H. Harland, G.P., read the Druids' service. -Evening Star, 26/11/1918.
Cecil Barker had survived the war and his wound. It was Spanish influenza which ended his life.
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