Orders, Decorations & Medals - Aust. Singles

Lot 3133    SESSION 13 (2.30PM THURSDAY 25TH MARCH)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Aust. Singles

Estimate $150
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $650

AUSTRALIAN ROLL OF HONOUR, In Memory Of My Son, voided design in silver and enamel (18x33mm), ring top suspension, reverse inscribed, 'A.P.L./A.H.Barker/Killed/5-8-16 (sic, see note)'. Very fine and scarce.

Note: Actual date of death was 6-8-16. Also, A.P.L is believed to be the Australian Patriotic League.

An article in the Richmond Guardian on Saturday 23 September 1916, p2 reads, 'Only 18 years and 5 months of age, Private A. H. Barker has been killed in action. He is the only son of Mrs. A. Barker, who resides with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Naylor, at 152 Green-street. He had lived in Richmond since the age of six, and as a boy was connected with St.Stephen's. Attending Trinity Grammar, Kew, he was afterwards employed as a clerk in the A.M.P. Society. On arriving in Egypt he was for six and a-half weeks laid up with enteric fever. He received no furlough, for, says Mrs. Barker simply, "I know he was very keen to get into the firing-line."'

Archibald Hardy Barker, clerk, age 18, born at West Melbourne, Vic; Enl.19Jun1915 at Melbourne, Vic, with previous service in Volunteer Cadets of 1 year; Emb.10Sep1915 with 9th Rfts 5Bn; to 1 Aust Gen Hosp, Heliopolis with Enteric 29Nov1915; TOS 46Bn 31Mar1916; KIA 06Aug1916 in France; Buried in an unmarked grave on the Pozieres battle field; Commemorated on Villers Bretonneux Memorial.