Pte 17166 Leo John Barber

• Age: 21
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Thursday 26th April 1917
• Commemorated at: Arras Memorial
  Panel Ref: Bay 3

Leo John was born in Liverpool on 16th January 1896 the son of James Barber and his wife Elizabeth (nee Wierzbieki) who were married in Liverpool in 1888. He was baptised on 19th January 1896 at Sacred Heart Church, Liverpool.

The 1901 Census finds the family living at 18 Gordon Road, Liscard, Cheshire. His father, James, is a 36 year old commercial clerk and his mother, Elizabeth, is 34 years of age, they live with their six children listed as;  James H, 11, Cyril 9, Elizabeth 7, Leo 5, all born Liverpool, and Reginald 2, Gladys M. 1 month old born in Liscard, Cheshire.

The 1911 Census finds the family have moved to Padua, Dalmorton Road, New Brighton. His father, James, now aged 47 is a cotton brokers clerk and his mother Elizabeth is 45. they live with their nine children;  James Hilary 21 a cotton merchants clerk, Cyril 19 an office boy, Elizabeth 17, Leo John 15 a general merchants office boy, Reginald 12, Gladys Mary 10, Victor Stephen 6, Hilda May 3 and Gertrude Marie 11mths.

Leo was educated at the Catholic Institute and was working for Messrs J W Taylor & Co. in the cotton trade prior to enlisting. 

He enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool on 31st August 1914 joining with the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 17166.

From the 23^rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 07^th November 1915.

Leo was killed in action on 26th April 1917, aged 21.

The 18th Battalion diary does not feature any casualties on 26th April 1917.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on 9^th and 10^th May 1917. 

Mr and Mrs James Barber of “Padru” 1 Dalmorton Road, New Brighton has been informed that their third son Private Leo J Barber (21) has been killed in action.

A  further newspaper report at the time of his death gives more details:

New Brighton Patriotic Family 

The sad intelligence has been received of the death of Pte. Leo John Barber, of the King’s Liverpool Regt., who was killed in action on April 27. The brave soldier, who was in his 22nd year, joined the colours in August, 1914, and had been in France since November, 1915. He was educated at St. Francis Xavier’s College, Liverpool, and was formerly employed with Messrs. J.W. Taylor and Co., cotton brokers, Liverpool. He was a keen footballer, and had played for the New Brighton Cadets and the Dalmorton Rovers. He was the third son of Mr and Mrs James Barber, “Padua,” 18, Dalmorton Road, New Brighton, for whom much sympathy has been expressed in the loss of such a promising “boy”. 

Lieut. W. Edmondson writes:- “Dear Mr Barber:- I am very sorry to have to write and tell you that your son was killed in action on the 27th April, just after dawn. He was standing in the trench with two other men and a shell came right in and killed all three instantaneously. His loss will be greatly felt by all the company, as he was a splendid soldier and very popular with all his fellows. His grave is close to where he was killed. I had a cross put up with his name and number and regiment. I feel I cannot express my sympathies in writing, but I know you will appreciate how deeply I feel for you in your irreparable loss. Please also convey my sympathies to all your family. 

Messrs. J.W. Taylor and Co. writes:- “Dear Mr and Mrs Barber – It was with the profoundest sorrow and regret that we received your letter announcing Leo’s death. We cannot express to you how sorry we are for you in your bereavement. We all of us held him in the highest esteem, and were looking forward to his return when this dreadful war is over.  We shall miss him very much indeed. Leo was a fine boy and has given his life for the greatest cause.. He, like others, has died a hero.”

Leo's body was not recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost as his name is recorded on the Arras Memorial in France.

The ARRAS MEMORIAL commemorates almost 35,000 servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1916 and 7 August 1918, the eve of the Advance to Victory, and have no known grave. The most conspicuous events of this period were the Arras offensive of April-May 1917, and the German attack in the spring of 1918. Canadian and Australian servicemen killed in these operations are commemorated by memorials at Vimy and Villers-Bretonneux. A separate memorial remembers those killed in the Battle of Cambrai in 1917. Both cemetery and memorial were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, with sculpture by Sir William Reid Dick. The memorial was unveiled by Lord Trenchard, Marshal of the Royal Air Force on the 31 July 1932 (originally it had been scheduled for 15 May, but due to the sudden death of French President Doumer, as a mark of respect, the ceremony was postponed until July).

Soldiers Effects to father James, Pension to mother Elizabeth

Leo was remembered on the first anniversary of his death on 27th April 1918 in the Liverpool Echo  - 

In Memoriam  -  Barber -  In honoured memory of my dear chum Leo Barber who was killed in action April 27 1917. (To live in the hearts of those we loved is not to die) Syd Bird.

Leo John is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Catholic Institute (now situated at St Edwards College, West Derby)

Cotton Association now sited at Walker House, Exchange Flags, Liverpool.

We currently have no further information on Leo John Barber, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.