Extracts and Comments
(from Sources as shown) | |
Murray: died of disease at Deelfontein 15.6.1900.
Bufton: photo.
Watson: Penguin Tas., Queen's South Africa medal and 2 clasps.
HAGSOC: Memorial Standerton ?BARKER W WAMI.
URL3: War Memorial Penguin Tas.
Roe: war memorial Hobart Tas.
URL5: Ulverstone Tas.
URL6: In Memoriam notice.
URL7: In Memoriam from parents in Penguin Tas.
URL8: Private F BARKER, Tasmanian Mounted Infantry, [died] of enteric fever at Deelfontein.
URL9: Pte. TW BARKER from Ulverstone, amongst the officers and men of the First Tas. Contingent quartered in the barracks 23.10.1899.
URL10: Boer War Victims. TASMANIAN SOLDIERS' GRAVES. The Guild of Loyal Women of South Africa have forwarded to the Tasmanian branch of the Victoria League a detailed statement of the attention shown to the graves of Tasmanian soldiers who fell in the South African war. It may be noted that the aim of the Victoria League is to attend to the graves of the soldiers who succumbed, to injury or disease in the South African campaign, and also to supply the State schools of Tasmania with libraries tending to create and foster an Imperial spirit. According to the list forwarded, the graves of Captain SALE and Lieut. WALTER, in Petersburg cemetery in the Transvaal are provided with suitable stone monuments. Privates LETTE and WADLEY are interred at Pretoria, their graves being distinguishd by a guild cross. Private MCLAREN lies in Balmoral, with a granite stone and slab railing to mark the spot. Private WEBER's grave in Johannesburg has a marble monument, enclosed by a handsome fence. QMS MORRISBY's interment at Klerksdorp is remembered by means of a marble monument, and Lance-Corporal ORR is buried at Retport. In Cape Colony are the graves of Privates PHEGAN and DOOLIN at Dordrecht. Some confusion has arisen over the first-named, as the name has been spelt FAGAH; but in a despatch at the time the commanding officer reported that Private PHEGAN, whose relatives live at Zeehan, but formerly resided at Forth, was buried with full military honors at Dordrecht. Private DM LYNE is buried at Norval's Pont, where his name appears on the monument and grave, and the last resting place of Private PITT in the same ground is marked by a small marble slab and guild cross. Private HUTTLEY's grave at East London has a small marble slab to mark the spot, and a guild cross is the distinctive mark over the graves of Private COWELL (Delfontein) and Private WARBURTON (Cradock). The last in the record is that of Private TW BARKER, from Penguin, a guild iron cross denoting the place of his long sleep at Delfontein. It must be a comforting thought to the relatives of the deceased that sympathetic friends are preserving their graves from being neglected.
Launc. Tele.: THE SOLDIERS' MEMORIAL, an imposing ceremony. For the first time in its history Launceston yesterday [10.11.1902] witnessed the ceremony of laying the foundation of a memorial to soldiers, who were its citizens, and had fallen by wounds or disease on the battlefield. Yesterday was the first anniversary of the reigning monarch since he was crowned, and the first celebration of the kind since South Africa became British territory, hence the occasion was very appropriate for laying the stone to the honor of some of those men who gave their lives in the struggle, which has assured British supremacy in what has long been known as the 'Dark Continent', but may now look reasonably for a peaceful future. The names of the northern Tasmanians who died in fighting for the present peace are to be engraved on a worthy monument in the City Park. The corner stone of the structure was laid yesterday in the presence of a large and deeply interested crowd, and with a duly impressive ceremony. The intended monument has already been described. It is to be executed mainly in Tasmanian brown stone, and besides containing effigies of men in khaki will be surmounted by a winged figure, probably in white marble, representing the Commonwealth, in the consolidation of which the sending of contingents to the war did much more than is often mentioned, for it quickened the aspirations of the people for a national life. The ceremony commenced shortly before 11 in the morning, when a detachment of infantry, under Lieutenant-Colonel MARTIN and headed by the Headquarters' Band, marched into the Park, and ranged up facing the site of the monument. Colonel CAMERON accompanied the military, and his appearance was greeted with cheers. The Mayor was present to perform the ceremony, and amongst the prominent citizens in attendance were most of the city aldermen, Senator JH KEATING, Messrs. RJ SADLER, P MCCRACKAN and SJ SUTTON MHA's, Canon BERESFORD, as chaplain to the forces, Rev. H JONES MA and others. The Headquarters' Band played the 'Dead March' from Saul very impressively, while all the assemblage stood with bowed beads, after which the Mayor declared the stone well and, truly laid, and said - Colonel CAMERON, officers and men, and ladies and gentlemen, some three years ago, on October 27, 1899, the first contingent of Tasmanian soldiers went away to South Africa; they were under the command of Colonel (then Captain) CAMERON, and they embarked from this place. (Cheers.) From time to time other contingents have left us on the same mission, the men who left us totalling 835 in number. But, alas! of that gallant company 27 will never return home again; they lost their lives as heroes in the cause of the Empire in that far off land. The birthday of his Majesty the King is being celebrated today and this has been thought a fitting time to lay the foundation stone of this memorial, which is to be raised by the people Launceston and the northern part of the State, out of respect to our fallen soldiers, and with a feeling of respect for their relatives, many of whom are here to witness this ceremony. By this monument we will show that those heroes are not forgotten; their names will be graven here, and handed down to history to be an example of patriotism to the rising generation. It will be, I Hope, some little consolation to the sorrowing relatives to know that we have thus remembered our heroes. (Cheers.) Colonel CAMERON, who was received with loud applause, then delivered a stirring address in which be referred to the work done by the army in assuring peace in South Africa. Some of their fellow-citizens had laid down their lives in that cause, their graves, and those of many other gallant men, were dotted over a vast territory, measuring a quarter of the Empire to-day, which their blood had brought under the sway of Britain, and the freedom only enjoyed under the Union Jack. (Cheers.) Colonel MARTIN also spoke, referring to the pride and respect with which citizens of generations to come might look upon the memorial, which would, he hoped, move them to live up to a high and healthy ideal of national life. (Applause.) The band then played the music for Kipling's 'Recessional Hymn', in which portion of the military, conducted by Sergeant-Major DRANSFIELD, and the public joined vocally, and the National Anthem, and the firing of a salute, terminated the proceedings. The names to be cut on the tablet are as follow - First Tasmanian Contingent, killed Corporal HA BETTS, Privates E BAILEY, A BUTTON, A GILHAM. Died of enteric Privates TW BARKER, H BLACK, T GALPIN, RV PITT, RP DOOLIN. Died of peritonitis Private J BUTLER. Tasmanian Bushmen's Contingent - Killed Private ER JACSON. First Imperial Contingent - Killed Lieutenant CH WALTER, Private P MCLAREN. Died of wounds Captain AA SALE, Private GH BROWN. Enteric Privates LFJ LETTE, WA WADLEY. Second Imperial Contingent - Killed Lance-Corporal J ORR. Died of wounds Private JE WARBURTON. Enteric Quartermaster-Sergeant DM LYNE, Privates FG COWELL, LP HUTTLEY. Dysentery Private P PHEGAN. 'E' Company, Third Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse. Died of enteric Private AE FITZALLEN. Hepatic abscess Quartermaster-Sergeant FE MORRISBY. Died of pneumonia on the Drayton Grange Privates C CUNDY and VL HODGMAN. The hon. secretary (Mr HC LITTLER) is especially anxious to get in the names of those Tasmanians that unattached to any of the island contingents, fell in the Empire's service in South Africa. The foundation stone bore the inscription - 'This stone was laid by FK FAIRTHORNE, Mayor of Launceston, November 10, 1902.' Under it were placed copies of the two daily newspapers, a printed record of the sending of the contingents, and the usual official memoranda. A sum of £8 16s 6d, in response to an invitation by the Mayor to those present to give further donations to the memorial fund, was laid on the stone before the gathering dispersed.
Hbt. Mercury: Mention has been made of the martial and patriotic ardour that prevails on the Coast, and this has been emphasised of late by the unveiling of a memorial to fallen soldiers at Penguin on King's Birthday [1902], in the presence of comrades and relatives of two volunteers for the war in Sonth Africa, who perished there. Penguin was one of the first districts to respond to the call for service in South Africa, among the first contingent being Lieut, (now Major) Wallace BROWN, Troopers T BARKER, A HOUGH, C LADE, C HYNES, J BLOWER, H BARNES, A BALLANTYNE and C MCGUIRE, all of whom did good service under their esteemed leader, Major CAMERON, and some of them served a second period after returning home in safety. The district was represented in each following contingent, and amongst these were two brothers of Major W BROWN, one of whom, Trooper Geoffrey BROWN, died of wounds received at Warmbaths, the other brother, Corporal E BROWN, being also wounded, and latterly went to England as a member of the Coronation Contingent. Trooper Thomas W BARKER was one of the many unfortunate soldiers slain by the insidious enemy - enteric, meeting his fate at Deelfontein, much to the regret of his comrades, who all, from their commander down, had a good word for the departed soldier. The ceremony of unveiling the memorial was a touching one, being performed by sisters of the departed troopers, and in the presence of many of their comrades, Miss Margaret BROWN and Miss Victoria BARKER being deputed to this duty Chaplain COPELAND, who conducted the ceremony, referred in fitting words to the feelings of sorrow and satisfaction enkindled by the event; sorrow that those whom they had loved and cheered on their way to the front would never return, and satisfaction to know that their memory would be perpetuated by the memorial stone erected by the public, to which it was then dedicated. Ulverstone being headquarters of the 3rd Battalion, to which these deceased soldiers belonged, has also started with the erection of a public memorial, but of a more elaborate character than that at Penguin. The foundation-stone was laid on June 26 [1902] as part of the Coronation festivities, but the memorial is still in the hands of the sculptor in Launceston, and it is not known when it will be completed, but it will probably be placed in position before the end of the year. This stone will bear the names of all members of the battalion who laid down their lives in South Africa, including the two Penguin comrades referred to.
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