The centenary commemorations of the First World War see not only those of large battles and significant events, they also commemorate the deaths of men like Thomas Barker.

There was some doubt as to the date of death, the Commonwealth War Graves lists it as 5th August, there are two entries in successive days in the war diary of his unit and the plaque in St. Werburgh’s dates his death as 8th August.

From research, we are confident that the date of his death by drowning was 5th August.

He has relatives still living in Kingsley but to date we have been unable to locate a photograph of him.

His life story can be found HERE