Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

My great uncle Sapper William Albert Barker died on4th September1916 in Northern France.
He was with 96th Field Company, Royal Engineers. I know he is commemorated on the Loos Memorial. What I would like to know is whether the circumstances of his death are recorded in any regimental records and also if he would be commemorated on a war memorial in Liverpool? The family lived in Mill Street at the time. His war record has survived but gives no details of how he died. His service number is100708.
Thanks in anticipation
Barbara

His name is in the Liverpool Town Hall, Hall of Remembrance.

http://www.civichalls.liverpool.gov.uk/ ... /index.asp

Amanda

Thanks Amanda, it's good to know he wasn't left out.
Barbara

The war diary of his company would tell you what was happening on the day he died. I know there are a lot of war diaries at the National Archives but I do not know where the RE diaries are held. Hopefully googling will find their whereabouts.

He may well have appeared on a church war memorial but bear in mind that generally people were put on war memorials as a result of the family filling in the relevant forms to do so.

I had the same thought Hilary and did a bit of googling yesterday. There are a few sites which I may explore further although I think I might have to buy the war diaries.
Thanks for the suggestions.
Barbara

Hi Barbara, I have just had the war diaries for my husbands grandad downloaded from the National Archives I was lucky enough to get the link given to me but it was through the discovery section. They downloaded everything they had from 1914-1918 plus a separate diary written by a young officer for the sum of £3.36 which is the best value I have come across. I am at the moment printing it out to read, our soldier was killed on the 25 th September 1915 in the Battle of Loos but is actually buried there. The parts I have read do not give any specific names of men only officers but to read of what they all went through on a daily basis I just say thank god for all of them. I would also try the Royal Engineers museum the address can be googled. Good luck with your search cheers L.B

Thanks LB. I have found the site for the Royal Engineers museum but the war diaries aren't available on line. As I'm in France and the museum's in Kent there's not much chance of me getting there. I have contacted someone who had a bit of info on what happened. It seems that six members of 96th company were all either killed or missing on the same day and it appears likely that Sapper Barker was one of them. The other missing men are commemorated I think at Thiepval so not sure why my great uncle is in Loos. I'll keep digging!
Barbara

I would send an email to the National Archives, if you don't know the reference number their site isn't easy to get to the exact bit you need but they may be able to tell you if they have the diary, they are have very reasonable charges for their documents.

Thanks Mary, I'll look into it and see what I can do. The person who gave me the initial lead may have the reference number so I'll contact him again.
Barbara