RFA: Ernest M BARR

[forester]

Well done Jean.

It looks like he didn't move far then from 1901 onwards.

Here's a quick link to 11th Division, which 58 Brigade were part of, if you haven't got there yet:
http://www.1914-1918.net/11div.htm

As he wasn't awarded the Star, he wouldn't have been in Gallipoli, but may have made Egypt and was presumably drafted into 58 Brigade after training.

It does look like he survived the war and possibly moved out of the area after being demobbed.

Phil

[Jean M]

Hello Phil

grateful for the link to history of 11th Div....will go and browse.

Can I presume that any hint of a Lancashire connection has now
fallen out of the picture?

and ....where did demob occur - not in Egypt I hope!!!

Jean

[forester]

Hello Jean,

Your luck may be changing 

I finally found this entry after starting at 1918 

Deaths  Q3 (Sept) 1952   Deptford  5c  320
BARR  Ernest M  age 70

If you can't access it yourself, PM me.

He may have taken a trip down Creek Road and forgotten to tell anyone.

I imagine he would have been demobbed at a Dispersal Unit back in England, whether at his point of entry or possibly Woolwich, I don't know.

Am I right in thinking that he did not marry? I couldn't find anything on FreeBMD.

It looks like your next move is the Local History room at Lewisham Library. They have a fairly good selection of directories and electoral rolls there and I think they can access the rolls that aren't on site. My wife found out about the original owner of our house (lived here 1901 to 1953), when we moved up here. John Coulter, who runs it, was very helpful.

Phil

[Jean M]

Hello Phil

Your fortitude deserves a gong, what a breakthrough. You are way ahead of me as I had  only managed to browse through to 1930 in the GRO deaths and planned to look further in the morning. 


That entry does look specially significant being close to the home territory and the right age.  The cert would provide valuable info, with luck.  I wonder if Ernest was in hospital for a long spell in 1920's? 
Woolwich would be a top spot to be demobbed.

It's a good idea to try Lewisham - the  archivist and team are  extremely knowledgeable and helpful.

Ernest had married and I have the birth records of his sons Bruce 1911 and Derek 1913. 

Edith BARR, Ernest's widow had allegedly 'remarried' after WW1 to a Mr Ponsonby (first name not known).

Neither marriage certificate has not come to light so far. There is always another search to do. While at Woolwich I collected the details of local municipal burials -  the indexes are  kept on site.

Think I should write a 'penny dreadful' soap opera on this crew.
Many thanks again for your help.

Jean


 

[forester]

You've got a bit more to work with now Jean.

It would be interesting to know if he was around the area throughout the missing years. Also if anything comes to light on his parentage. Whiting, I am sure, is significant.

Good luck,
Phil

[Jean M]

Hello Phil

Certainly will let you know - delighted we managed to draw together
so many threads.  TNA may offer further details if the documents
have survived.

Once again thank you for your help
Jean

[Jean M]

Hello Phil

Delighted to let you know the GRO death cert you had pin-pointed
is a hit.

21 July 1952  36 Colwick Street, Deptford

Ernest Marshall BARR 70 yrs
Clerk in the Ministry of Labour

and the informant was his sister Emily Kate (Barr) PETRIE
her address given as 42 Straightsmouth, Greenwich.

I am confident that he is our man but more than curious now
about his wife who was said to have remarried.

Jean

[forester]

Hello Jean,

That's a good result. He obviously stayed in touch with the Barr side of the family and went back to his old occupation after the war. 42 Straightsmouth seems to have stayed in the family a long time as well.

After much searching I found Coldwick St through the 1901 census. It would appear to have been on the north side of Lower Road, right on the border with Rotherhithe. The next street on the enumerator's route was Croft Street, so it must be under the Cannon Wharf Business Centre.

Next step, I suppose, is to track down the mysterious Edith. What do you know about her and her sons? Did they stay in the Greenwich area?

Phil

[Jean M]

Hello Phil,

This saga has kept us on our toes and with the many little snapshots
we have begun to build up an amazing picture.
 
A 70 year old working away in the Ministry of Labour is
intriguing too  - minimum pension if any,  I suppose.

I have the GRO Birth for Bruce Marshall BARR  13th October 1911
mother Edith Florence BARR (formerly CLACK)
Ernest Marshall BARR, father, and his occupation is given as
Steel Manufacturer's Draughtsman.

The family address  175 Brixton Road useful new clues.
I shall try to pin down Edith next.

I had also checked on the Deptford + Rotherhithe location
- much rebuilding in that area. I have a copy of Charles James Booth's
Streets of London S.E.  A well thumbed book that describes the
districts in great detail.

The electoral roll at each address may give up more if they are available.
Many thanks for digging away on this - it helps a lot.

Jean