Pte
Alexander Barter
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1901 |
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Place of birth: St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada |
General information
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Last known residence: 265 Southside, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador |
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Profession: Clerk |
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Religion: Methodist |
Army information
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Country: Newfoundland and Labrador |
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Force: Canadian Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 4001 |
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Enlistment date: 19/10/1917 |
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Enlistment place: St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada |
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Units: — Royal Newfoundland Regiment, 1st Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 29/19/1918 |
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Place of death: Damp Farm, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 17 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: LIX Row: C Grave: 6 |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Alexander Barter was born around 1901 in St. John’s, Newfoundland. He was the only son of James and Leah Barter. He had one sister, who passed away in 1916. Before enlisting in October 1917, he had already made two unsuccessful attempts. However, on 19 October 1917, he was accepted into the ranks of the 1st Battalion, Royal Newfoundland Regiment.
Alexander Barter was killed in action at the age of 17 on 29 September 1918 during the Allied Final Offensive.
On 28 September 1918, at 01:30 a.m., the battalion gathered east of Ypres to attack the German lines at Bellewaerde, Westhoek Ridge, and Polygon Wood. This was part of the final offensive in Belgium. After an artillery bombardment by Belgian and British batteries, the soldiers left their trenches at 05:30. Half of the Newfoundlanders who left their trenches that day had never fought at the front before. By 12:00 p.m., the objectives had been captured. By 4:00 p.m., the entire Polygon Wood had been taken, and the Newfoundlanders had taken a position in the eastern part of the wood. By evening, the front had quieted.
The following day, 29 September, at 05:30 a.m., orders were given to continue the advance, with the Belgians on the left and the 36th Division on the right. The Newfoundlanders were tasked with capturing the Keiberg. At 09:15, the attack began again. Broodseinde was quickly captured, and the Newfoundlanders advanced towards the Keiberg.
To the east of Celtic Wood, just outside Broodseinde, there was a German gun supported by several machine guns. A half-platoon from B Company flanked the machine guns from the south and took them out, along with the gun. By 6:30 p.m., the Newfoundlanders had crossed the Keiberg and set up an advanced line just east of Strooiboomhoek. Both Moorslede and Dadizele were captured that day.
The total losses of the Newfoundlanders after two days of fighting were: 9 killed, 92 wounded, 5 missing, and 38 sick. The 17-year-old Alexander was among the 5 missing, later declared killed in action. His body was found after the war between Dame House and Damp Farm and reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot LIX, Row C, Grave 6.
Alexander Barter was killed in action at the age of 17 on 29 September 1918 during the Allied Final Offensive.
On 28 September 1918, at 01:30 a.m., the battalion gathered east of Ypres to attack the German lines at Bellewaerde, Westhoek Ridge, and Polygon Wood. This was part of the final offensive in Belgium. After an artillery bombardment by Belgian and British batteries, the soldiers left their trenches at 05:30. Half of the Newfoundlanders who left their trenches that day had never fought at the front before. By 12:00 p.m., the objectives had been captured. By 4:00 p.m., the entire Polygon Wood had been taken, and the Newfoundlanders had taken a position in the eastern part of the wood. By evening, the front had quieted.
The following day, 29 September, at 05:30 a.m., orders were given to continue the advance, with the Belgians on the left and the 36th Division on the right. The Newfoundlanders were tasked with capturing the Keiberg. At 09:15, the attack began again. Broodseinde was quickly captured, and the Newfoundlanders advanced towards the Keiberg.
To the east of Celtic Wood, just outside Broodseinde, there was a German gun supported by several machine guns. A half-platoon from B Company flanked the machine guns from the south and took them out, along with the gun. By 6:30 p.m., the Newfoundlanders had crossed the Keiberg and set up an advanced line just east of Strooiboomhoek. Both Moorslede and Dadizele were captured that day.
The total losses of the Newfoundlanders after two days of fighting were: 9 killed, 92 wounded, 5 missing, and 38 sick. The 17-year-old Alexander was among the 5 missing, later declared killed in action. His body was found after the war between Dame House and Damp Farm and reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot LIX, Row C, Grave 6.
Sources 3
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1 Battalion Royal Newfoundland Regiment war diary (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/1775/6). http://nationalarchives.gov.uk Sources used |
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Newfoundland, Canada, Births, Marriages, and Deaths, 1850-1949, Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador, Provincial Archives (Newfoundland & Labrador), Newfoundland, Canada. http://ancestry.com Sources used |
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Personnel Records of the First World War (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), Royal Newfoundland Regiment and Forestry Corps, RG38-A-2-e, Finding Aid 38-27, Reel T-18486, Volume 671). https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/personnel-records/Pages/search.aspx Sources used |
More information 4
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/4001 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=b74fbea9-0208-4afa-a74e-87fde4d6b5cc |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/222135 |
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The Canadian Virtual War Memorial https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/461853?Alexander%20Barter |