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Barker, John “Jack” Wilfred, enlisted at Edmonton, Alberta, formerly from Bleamore Farm, Traynor, Saskatchewan, and originally from Rugby, Warwickshire, England. Occupation: Farmer. Military Service: Private, Reg. No. 432029, probably with the 49th (Edmonton) Bn. Attestation Papers. Diary Reference: “Stopped to rest halfway up the hill when the 29th [49th?] passed. Among them I recognized Wilfred Barker. He is camped on the same plain here and in D Company,”1:20 Jul ’15; “Had a chat with Wilf Barker tonight,”1:21 Jul ’15; “Visit from Jack Barker tonight. His gang is in the huts at Wood Farm,” 2:17 Jan ’16; “Dunc Gray [Gay] died of wounds as Hoggie [O. M. Hogg] (since killed at Vimy Ridge) and [D.E.M.] Donnelly (since killed at Vimy Ridge) were bringing him out,” 3:4 Jun ’16.
Additional Biographical Information:
Reg. No. 432029, Pte. John Wilfred Barker, next of kin William Barker, Bleamore Farm, Frayner [sic], Sask., born in England, enlisted at Edmonton 4 Jan 1915. Embarked for England from Montreal aboard the S.S. Metagama on 3 June 1915. Nominal Roll of the 49th Battalion.
Jack Barker was from Traynor, Saskatchewan, which was 9.4 km from Wolfe, where Frank’s family farmed. Apparently, he was known by both Jack and Wilf. He is not to be confused from M.A.C. student Wilfred R. Barker from Okotoks, Alberta. According to his attestation papers, Pte. Barker was discharged as medically unfit on 30 September 1917. Evidently, he had been severely wounded, probably in the Battle of Flers-Courcelette in which the 49th Bn. took part. (Note: Pte. Barker was probably with the 49th Bn. The 29th (Vancouver) Bn. had been recruited in Vancouver and New Westminster, B.C. and on 20 July 1915 was at Lydd, about 13 miles from St. Martin’s Plain, where Frank and Wilfred were located.