John James Barker (1892-1954)
Coal miner from Felling served in the Durham Light Infantry
John James Barker was born on 23 July 1892 in Felling. He was one of five children born to William and Sarah Barker nee Cameron, who had married on 18 November 1881. John spent his childhood in Felling, moving from Gordon Street to Holly Hill by the time of the 1901 census. His mother died in 1909 and at the time of the 1911 census, John is living with his father, his older brother and two of his sisters. John, along with his older brother had joined their father working in the coalmine.
John initially attested into the 9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry (DLI) on 23 June 1913 and was given the service number 1667. It appears he was called up into the 2/9th Battalion the day after war was declared and given the new service number 9/6519. Just under two years later, John began serving abroad on 7 July 1916 and was transferred to the 1/8th Battalion in September of the same year. Throughout his time serving John was ranked as a private and at some point given the third service number of 302074.
John received a gunshot wound to his left hand, although the date for this injury is unclear. He spent a period of time at home between 14 April 1918 and 7 August 1918 which may suggest it was around this time he received his injury. It is possible that he was injured at a later date, as again he spent time at home from 21 September 1918 and did not return to France after this date. He was demobilised on 19 April 1919. Just over a year later, John re-attested into the 9th Battalion DLI on 5 July 1920 and finally left the Army in 1925. When he attested in 1920 his medical report records his left ring finger had been amputated, which may well have been linked to the gunshot wound he had received during the First World War.
During John’s time serving in the First World War he married Rose Lily Donkin Smith on 15 September 1914. Their first child, also named John James, was born two months later on 25 November. John and Rose went on to have at least a further eight children. John died from carcinoma of the stomach on 10 January 1954.
Civil Parish: Heworth
Birth date: 23-Jul-1892
Death date: 10-Jan-1954
Armed force/civilian: Army
Residence: 5 Gordon Street, Felling (Birth Certificate)
2 Holly Hill, Felling (1901, 1911 Census, 1913 Attestation Papers)
24 Crow Hall Lane, Felling (Service Records)
8 Eastwood Gardens, Felling (Death Certificate)
Religion: Church of England
Employment: Miner – hewer (1911 Census, Service Records)
Colliery Banksman – Unemployed (1939 Register)
Chemical Works Labourer (Death Certificate)
Family: Parents: William Barker, Sarah Barker nee Cameron
Siblings: William Barker, Sarah Barker, Ellen Barker, Margaret Barker
Wife: Rose Lily Barker, nee Donkin Smith
Children: Elizabeth Ellen Barker, Mary Barker, Elsie Barker, Robert Barker, Lydia Barker, Doris Barker, Emily Barker, Gladys Barker
Military service:
Durham Light Infantry 9th, 2nd, 1/8th Battalions
Private
Service Numbers 1667, 9/6519, 302074
Medal(s): British War Medal
Victory Medal
Gender: Male
Contributed by Fiona Johnson | Mic, Gateshead