From The Vaults

The following letter, dated 1918, was written by Sunderland rugby and hockey player Charles Herbert about the death of his best friend - 'Billy Barker' and was found in the records of First World War officers in the National Archives at Kew -

Dear Colonel Barker

This is the most difficult letter I have ever written, and in it I want to tell you how old Billy was killed.

The battalion as you will know was involved in the withdrawal from March 21st to April 2nd. During the first few days Billy's company (C) and mine (D) constantly supported and helped each other out of exceedingly difficult situations. We were together always. Our company head qtrs. were together and we advised each other on all things.

All went well until the 24th when Billy was given a most difficult flank to hold, in front of Clery sur Somme. We had hard hand to hand fighting with the enemy and although in vastly superior number and with vastly superior effectives, 'C' coy beat him off and held him off until the fight had gone on for 2 ½ hours. Then after a perfect shoal of cylindrical stick bombs he drove us back by sheer weight of numbers. Billy and one of his officers were killed instantaneously by one of the bombs.

It is almost unnecessary for me to tell you how he was loved and admired by everyone. You know that it has always been so. He has left a big gap out here, a gap which I feel worse than anyone else.

Please accept the deep, the very deep sympathy of all the officers

Yours very sincerely

C S Herbert

Both were Sunderland men and serving in the 15th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry at the time of Billy's death. C W T 'Billy Barker' (1887 -1918) was a dedicated amateur rugby player from schooldays. The son of a Sunderland solicitor he was a fine athlete who played for Gresham School 1st XV around the turn of the century. The school magazine for 1902 noted that he 'should develop into a clever three-quarter as he gets faster and stronger'. Small in stature, (5'4" according to records) he developed into a scrum half and was playing for Sunderland already in 1902 when on holiday from school. Between then and the very outbreak of war in 1914 he turned out on a regular basis for one of Sunderland's three XVs - often captaining the 2nds or 3rds.

However, a researcher sent out to contact Davison for confirmation was unable to find him in hospital or with his battalion. By 16 August 1918 Billy was still registered as missing as was Charles - still not accepted as a witness despite the letter. His father wrote a series of letters enquiring after his son's fate and was still claiming to be 'confused' by September 1918. It was not until 19 October 1918 that Billy's death was accepted 'through the passage of time' His death was confirmed later by returning POWs. Alex Richardson (72967), a private in the 1st DLI wrote -

I saw him lying dead in the trench at Peronne March 24. We had to pass the trench in which he was lying'.

A Private Oliver (8132) noted

P Knott who is still missing told me on the evening of the 24th that he was alongside Captain Barker when he was killed. This was in a stand we made on the Peronne Ridge on 24 March 1918

A repatriated POW Private J W (72982) of the 15th DLI saw him 'kneeling in a trench shot through the head - rifle in hand - an M.C. and company captain from Sunderland - little and darkish (his record says he was 5'4") - father a magistrate.

His death was eventually recorded as being at Clery Sur Somme and his name appears on the Pozieres' Monument. Letter writer and fellow amateur sportsman Charles Herbert (1885 -1918), also an M.C., was registered as missing at first but later acknowledged to have died on 27 May. A family story suggests that the fatal bullet took a glancing blow off a silver cigarette case in his breast pocket. His father, already unwell, is said to have died soon after the news of his son's death. As noted by a witness, two of Billy's brothers were also dead - one because of gas poisoning and the other, an artillery officer, killed by an explosion. Both played rugby for Sunderland club, Southwick Rangers, in the years before the war. Two other Barker brothers survived. All had attended Gresham's School.'

Although the sheer number of casualties suffered in the First World War reminds us of the reason behind our lengthy commitment to Remembrance Day, it is often the individual stories such as those of 'rugby lads' like Billy and Charles that bring home the true effects of war. Due to upbringing and educational background, many young rugby players became junior officers and their records have survived and can be viewed at the National Archives.

About the Author - Keith Gregson is an author and archivist for Sunderland RFC. He has written an online book about the club in the First World War with some 250 mini biographies. Contact him if you would like a free copy. The school and wartime careers of the three Barker boys who died in the war are covered fair detail on the Gresham's School First World War Memorial website, although there is little reference to the War Office material included above.