252935 Pte Fredrick William Barber British Army 5th Btn. Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (d.25th Oct 1916) Fred Barber was born in 1889 and was the son of Arthur Henry, a stoker at the local rubber factory, and Emily Barber (nee Chapman) of Retford. He had 8 siblings and in the 1911 census the family were living at 36 Trent Street, Retford. Fred was single and a rubber mat maker by trade.
On 10th of February 1916 at St Peter's Church, Leeds, Fred married his wife Alberta Boshell of 2 Pullan Place, Beeston, Leeds. At the time of his marriage he was a serving soldier and was living at 36 Trent Street, Retford.
Fred enlisted at Retford but gave his residence as being in Beeston. He at first served with the Sherwood Foresters Notts and Derbys Regiment with service number 4461 but later transferred to the 5th Battalion Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Regiment.
He died on 25th of October 1916 and is buried in Agny Military Cemetery, France.
Retford Times of the 17th of November 1916 reported, "Pte F W Barber, Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry, son of Mr and Mrs Barber, Trent Street, was accidentally killed in France on Oct 25th. His parents first received the sad news from his chum and last week official intimation arrived from the War Office. The gallant soldier who was 27 years of age, enlisted in the Sherwood Foresters (TF) in November last year and later on was transferred to the Oxford and Bucks Regt. He went to France in March of this year and was wounded by shrapnel in the head during the push in July. Prior to enlisting he was employed for 14 years at the Northern Rubber Works. Pte V Wightman, one of Pte Barber's comrades, has written a letter of sympathy to his parents explaining the circumstances of his death. "
Fred was my Great Uncle.
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