George Barks

[Margaret in Burton]

Name - "official" name and what they were known as
George Barks

Date and place of birth
18 April 1878 - Balderton, Nottinghamshire

Names of parents
George Barks (http://www.genealogistsforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=3385) and Mary Pratt (http://www.genealogistsforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=3749)

Date and place of baptism - if applicable
Not found one

Details of each of his or her marriages - if any
married Jane Hallam (http://www.genealogistsforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=2624) - 24 October 1896, The Register Office, Newark, Nottinghamshire

Occupation(s) - if any
Malsters Labourer for J Hole and Co. in Nottinghamshire and for Yeoman, Cherry and Curtis in Burton on Trent. Also a Groom according to his army record

Military service - if any -
R/4/ 111574 Army Service Corps, Private (Driver) 55th Remount Squadron. Recruited at Burton on Trent on 26 June 1915.

At the time of joining he was 40 years old. Height 5ft 6 and half inches. Chest when fully expanded 43 inches, range of expansion 2 and half inches. Distinctive marks: 4 left (?) Scar on left knee. Weight 174 lbs. He was vaccinated in infancy.

He was AWOL on 22 Jan 1916 at Ripon, Yorkshire until 10pm on 24 Jan 1916. He was Admonished on 25 Jan 1916 abd forfited 2 days pay.

Demobbed on 28 Mar 1919 aged 44

He doesn't appear to have served abroad.

Addresses where they lived
1881 Farndon, Nottinghamshire
1891 Glovers Lane, Balderton, Nottinghamshire
1901 Church Lane, Balderton, Nottinghamshire
1911 62 Princess Street, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire
1914 to at least 1925 7 York Street, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire
1929 34 Wood Street, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire

Date, place and cause of death
27 July 1929 - Toxaemia and Carbuncle of Neck

Date and place of burial / cremation.
31 July 1929, The Cemetery, Burton on Trent, plot 420 general.

Details of will / administration of their estate - if applicable
Never checked (Not found in National Probate Calendar)

Memorial inscription - if any
Yes there is one, need to check the inscription.

Link to daughter: Mary Ellen Barks (http://www.genealogistsforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=10652)


http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu326/margharrison/BarksGeorge2.jpg

[kiterunner]

Presumably his year of birth is 1878, not 1978?

[Margaret in Burton]

Presumably his year of birth is 1878, not 1978?

ooops

Thanks Kate lol

[kiterunner]

I looked him up in the National Probate Calendar while I was at the record office, and couldn't find an entry for him, so there was probably no will or administration.

[Margaret in Burton]

Thank you Kate.

I would like to know more about his army career. I only know the regiment as my aunt has a very long framed photo (about 4ft long) of the regiment and horses. We haven't a clue which one is George as they all look similar. The name of the regiment in on the bottom of the photo.
Haven't been able to find a medal card so perhaps he didn't go abroad. He was 36 when war broke out.

[Jackie H]

His service record is on Ancestry. It says that he was aged 40 when he signed up in 1915, which would give him a year of birth of about 1875, but it must be him because his wife is Jane Hallam m 24.10.1896. It also gives names and dobs for 7 children. Have you got Ancestry?

http://search.ancestry.co.uk/iexec/?htx=View&r=5538&dbid=1219&iid=MIUK1914F_128213-00948&fn=George&ln=Barks&st=r&ssrc=&pid=234378

Jackie

[Margaret in Burton]

I hadn't spotted that Jackie.

Yes I do have Ancestry, thank you.

[Margaret in Burton]

This game is certainly going to be successful.

That army record I hadn't seen. It only lists 7 of his 9 children. Would that be because the elder 2 were over 16?

The address of 7 York Street is correct too as my grandmother was married from there and I had forgotten to add that.

I see he went AWOL at one point for 2 days. Also he is listed as a groom. I was always told he was a Malsters Labourer.

Thank you.

[Jackie H]

I presume the fact that he gave his occupation as groom is why he was enlisted with the Remounts. There's an interesting article here

http://www.1914-1918.net/ASC_Remounts.htm

Now you have more details about him, it would probably be worth posting on the Great War Forum who may be able to give more guidance about his service records.

Jackie

[Margaret in Burton]

Thanks Jackie

I'll go through it at my leisure during the weekend.

One question:

He seems to have promoted to Corporal in Aug 1916 but on demob in 1919 was a Private. Was that normal or because of his AWOL do you think?

[Jackie H]

I'm not sure. The punishment was that he was "Admonished" and forfeited 2 days pay. It doesn't mention being demoted.

http://search.ancestry.co.uk/Browse/view.aspx?dbid=1219&path=B.Ba.Bar.204658&sid=&gskw=George+Barks&cr=1

The page about his promotion says (I think) that he enlisted on 26th June 1915 and was promoted on 18th August 1915. Further down the page it says something about "Appointed Acting Cpl" and the next bit which is hard to read says either With or Without pay. That bit's been crossed through so perhaps it was some sort of temporary promotion.

[Margaret in Burton]

Yes, maybe Jackie

I've only skimmed it so far. Haven't had time to go any further. I see his nephew George William Barks who was killed in action in Ireland is also on Ancestry. I think I need to go back over those records and double check.

Thanks again.

[Rosie Knees]

Margaret, have you got pictures of the Balderton/Farndon addresses? I can get some for you if you'd like.

[Margaret in Burton]

No, I haven't Rosie. That would be great if you don't mind. I don't have the numbers of the houses though. My grandmother was born in Balderton in 1897.

[Rosie Knees]

OK, on a nice day I will do Glover's Lane and Church Lane. Pity you haven't got the numbers.

PLEASE remind me if a long time passes just incase I forget. I won't be offended lol.

[Margaret in Burton]

Rosie

The census doesn't give the numbers. Even my grandmothers birth cert just says Balderton. Not very helpful.

[Rosie Knees]

ho hum lol.

I'm lucky on one of the Balderton census, 1891 I think, that the family are listed at 27 Woodbine Terrace. It took me years to find Woodbine Terrace though. The house is now 100 and something London Road.

I'll see if I can get a nice view of your streets.

[Rosie Knees]

Sorry I took so long Margaret. I was waiting for a sunny opportunity but it never came so they are a bit gloomy.

There are very few old houses left on Church Street and you can see on the second picture a big space where, I assume, houses used to stand.

The junction of Church Street and Main Street
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i153/normo3/Rose/2009_11270007.jpg

Looking down Church Street with my back to Main Street
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i153/normo3/Rose/2009_11270006.jpg

Facing Main Street at the furthest extent of old houses on Church Street.
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i153/normo3/Rose/2009_11270003.jpg

Walking towards Main Street
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i153/normo3/Rose/2009_11270004.jpg

Closer to Main Street junction with the Church on the left
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i153/normo3/Rose/2009_11270005.jpg

[Rosie Knees]

Not many oldies left on this one either I'm afraid.

Corner of Glover's Lane and Main street
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i153/normo3/Rose/2009_11270008.jpg

Facing into Glover's Lane with my back to Main Street.
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i153/normo3/Rose/2009_11270009.jpg

Down the far end looking back towards Main Street
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i153/normo3/Rose/2009_11270010.jpg

Making my way back to Main Street
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i153/normo3/Rose/2009_11270011.jpg

These on the right look 1930ish to me but there is a blocked up window. I'm sure they can't be old enough to have been in the window tax era, I think that was one of the Georges wasn't it?
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i153/normo3/Rose/2009_11270012.jpg

[Margaret in Burton]

Thank you so much Rosie, I will copy those with all of your comments.

[Rosie Knees]

my pleasure Margaret. If you ever find out the house numbers let me know and I'll get a pic for you.