George Barber

G. BARBER.

2nd Lieutenant, George Barber, 13th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment).

Born in 1889 son of Borough rent collector Henry and Harriett, (nee, Shatwell), Barber. George was educated at Christ Church School, under Dr Beach, and afterwards served there as a pupil teacher. Subsequently he was for twelve months on the teaching staff at St George’s. Later he took to the teaching profession after taking a teacher’s course at Saltley Training College, Birmingham. He next held an appointment as certificated teacher at St Paul’s School, Macclesfield, and in May, 1912, he was appointed as Assistant Master and Superintendent of Physical Instruction at the at the Victoria Institute, Kuala Lumpar in Malaya. At the declaration of war George returned to England and enlisted in the Royal Fusiliers. He was an Assistant Scout Master with the 3rd Macclesfield Troop.

Army life started as Private, RS/6111, G. Barber; however nine months later he was commissioned, 24/09/1915. He entered France, 09/02/1916, and was soon back in England suffering from the after effects of frostbite and pneumonia. On recovering he was for a time at Shoreham camp. George returned to the Somme region, and was killed in action, Tuesday, 3 October 1916, aged 27 years.

Medals: British War Medal and Victory Medal.

These were sent to his widow Mrs Guymer, 24, Sudbourne Road, Brixton, S. W. who had since remarried. Probate of his Will was given to Henry Barber, Rate Collector, which gave George’s address as 65, Prestbury Road, Macclesfield. His effects were £563.12s.0d.

2nd Lieutenant, George Barber is buried at the Guards Cemetery, Lesboeufs, Somme, France. C.W.G.C. Ref: – II. E. 4.

Also refer to

• Macclesfield Troops pre WWI
• Photos from Barnswood archive Macclesfield WW1
• Macclesfield Times Scouting service in the Great War Feb 1918
• Photos of 3rd Macclesfield Troop pre WW1
• Great war history of 3rd Macclesfield Sue Henderson
• WWI List of Addresses Trevor Druce Macclesfield Reflects
• Remembrance Sunday WWI Original 2020
• ‘Big Hats, Shorts and Dyb Dyb Dyb’ – a history of Macclesfield and Congleton Scouts by Norman Gosling