Gnr
Archibald Forbes Barwick
Information about birth
|
Year of birth: 1884 |
|
Place of birth: Mudgee, New South Wales, Australia |
General information
|
Last known residence: 40 Morgan Street, Petersham, New South Wales, Australia |
|
Profession: Iron Moulder |
|
Religion: Church of England |
Army information
|
Country: Australia |
|
Force: Australian Imperial Force |
|
Rank: Gunner |
|
Service number: 4656 |
|
Enlistment date: 08/22/1915 |
|
Enlistment place: Casula, New South Wales, Australia |
|
Units: — Australian Infantry, 20th Bn. (New South Wales) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
|
Date of death: 08/10/1917 |
|
Place of death: Daring Crossing, Belgium |
|
Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
|
Age: 33 |
Cemetery
|
Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: XXXVI Row: D Grave: 20 |
Distinctions and medals 3
|
1914-15 Star Medal |
|
British War Medal Medal |
|
Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Last known residence | ||
| #2 | Place of birth | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Archibald Forbes Barwick, a former iron moulder, was born in July 1884 in Mudgee, New South Wales, Australia, as the son of John and Margaret Barwick. On November 8th, 1915, he enlisted at Casula, New South Wales, and served as a Private in the 20th Battalion, part of the 5th Brigade of the 2nd Division.
On October 7th, 1917, the 5th Brigade was repositioned to prepare for an attack on the left brigade sector of the 2nd Division during the Battle of Poelcappelle. This sector lay between Dash Crossing and the front of Daisy Wood. That day, however, their task was still to hold the line. This came at a cost. From the afternoon onward, the brigade was subjected to heavy and continuous shelling by enemy forces, significantly weakening the 20th Battalion. The bombardment continued into the following day, and by the evening of October 8th, only about 120 men remained.
Archibald, aged 33, was killed in action by a shell at approximately 6 p.m. on October 8th. He had been manning a machine gun with Markham, and possibly Travers and ‘Little Tich’, before they were all killed by the same shell. Private Archibald Forbes Barwick is buried at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot XXXVI, Row D, Grave 20.
On October 7th, 1917, the 5th Brigade was repositioned to prepare for an attack on the left brigade sector of the 2nd Division during the Battle of Poelcappelle. This sector lay between Dash Crossing and the front of Daisy Wood. That day, however, their task was still to hold the line. This came at a cost. From the afternoon onward, the brigade was subjected to heavy and continuous shelling by enemy forces, significantly weakening the 20th Battalion. The bombardment continued into the following day, and by the evening of October 8th, only about 120 men remained.
Archibald, aged 33, was killed in action by a shell at approximately 6 p.m. on October 8th. He had been manning a machine gun with Markham, and possibly Travers and ‘Little Tich’, before they were all killed by the same shell. Private Archibald Forbes Barwick is buried at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot XXXVI, Row D, Grave 20.
Sources 5
|
Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), RCDIG1064166). https://www.awm.gov.au Sources used |
|
AWM4 Class 23 – Infantry (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23). https://www.awm.gov.au Sources used |
|
First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, (National Archives of Australia, Canberra (NAA), B2455, BARWICK A F). https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au Sources used |
|
The AIF Project (University of New South Wales, Canberra (UNSW)). https://aif.adfa.edu.au Sources used |
|
Unit embarkation nominal rolls, 1914-18 War (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM8). https://www.awm.gov.au Sources used |
More information 4
|
Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=0a54d0b3-e1b5-4852-949d-cfcf4f34c7b2 |
|
Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7352439 |
|
The AIF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=15684 |
|
Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/461862 |