Ernest was the son of Albert Barber,
a Poultry Merchant and Alice (nee Jones). In the 1911 census
Ernest was listed as a junior salesman (Boot). It is most likely
that he died of influenza as did some of his colleagues at this
time.
Another loss is sustained by the Battalion in
the death of Corporal Barber who was one of the few remaining
peace-time 25th men. On the outbreak of war he went to Lowestoft
with the First Battalion ("F" Company), and in the amalgamation
at Chiseldon he was posted to "B" Company, till he joined the
Drum and Fife Band on its inception. When the Waziristan Field
Force was assembled, he returned to No. & Platoon, receiving his
second stripe at Tank. On the return of the Battalion he was
appointed Sports Secretary and was placed in charge of the
Billiard Room, in both of which capacities he worked hard and
efficiently.
Only a week before his death he returned to
Company duty at his won request in order to become re-accustomed
to Company routine, as he had applied for a commission. He was
liked and respected by everyone alike, and the news of his death
came as a melancholy surprise to everybody.
[The Londoner magazine, Feb 1919 - V.III, No.2
pg.53.]
Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-19
Barber, Ernest Cecil, born Shepherds Bush, resident
Holloway Road, enlisted Fulham, 740044, L/Cpl., died in India, 22 Oct
1918.
['Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-19',
Vol. 10, Part 76, Page 206, 25th (County of London) Battalion (Cyclists),
pub. 1921 by His Majesty's Stationary Office]
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In Memory of
Corporal ERNEST CECIL BARBER
740044, 1st/25th Bn., London Regiment (Cyclists)
who died age 24 on 22 October 1918 in India
Son of Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Barber, of 13, Lancaster Rd. Stroud Green, London.
Remembered with honour Kirkee 1914-1918 Memorial, India. Face
10.
Commemorated in perpetuity by
the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The Kirkee Memorial commemorates more than 1,800
servicemen who died in India during the First World War, who are buried in
civil and cantonment cemeteries in India and Pakistan* where their graves
can no longer be properly maintained. This total includes the names of 629
servicemen whose remains were brought from
Bombay
(Sewri) Cemetery for re-interment here in 1960.
Kirkee, also known as Khadki, is a Military
Cantonment adjoining the large university town of
Poona
on the Plateau above
Bombay
. It can be reached by train from
Bombay
to
Poona
or by long distance taxi service from Dada Taxi Stand,
Bombay
. There are direct flights from
Bombay
,
Madras
and
Delhi
but these tend to be irregular. Taxis and Motor Rickshaws are available
from Poona Railway Station. To reach
Kirkee
War
Cemetery
, in which the memorial stands, one must ask for
Mula Road
along which the cemetery is located. One way is to cross the
Sangam
Bridge
and follow the road which has the River Mula on its right. The CWGC road
direction board is on a crossroads with the
Bombay Poona Road
. The cemetery is situated on the right hand side and backs onto the
river. From the railway station follow the way via Juna Bazar,
Sangam
Bridge
, past the Engineering college, over
Wakdewadi
Bridge
, past Bajaj Kamal Nayan Udyan and onto Bhayawadi and Mula Roads. From the
airport, one reaches
Ahmadnagar Road
which joins onto
Nagar Road
followed by
Deccan College Road
; over the
Holkar
Bridge
and, keeping left at the junction with Elphinson road, one enters
Mula Road
. The cemetery is a short distance away on the left hand side of the road.
The Commonwealth War Graves road direction sign is situated at the
junctions of
Elphinson Road
and
Mula Road
, but it should be noted that this is often hidden from view by Market
Stalls.
[Courtesy of Commonwealth War Graves
Commission]
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