Brenda McMahon has submitted the following:-
Charles, the son of Edward and Anne Spears was born at Tudhoe in 1879. The couple married at Durham in 1861.
The 1891 census shows his father worked as a coke burner. Several children had arrived by this time including James, Jane, Robert, Edward, George and William. Also living with the family were father Edward’s brother, Robert and a domestic servant Jane Robinson.
By 1901 Edward senior was a cow keeper although by this time the several family members had grown up and left home to start their own families. Son George (an iron worker) and Charles were still at home as was William, a farm servant. Looking after the family was a housekeeper with her young child.
In 1911 Charles was boarding with his married sister Jane (now Ellis) and her family at South Street, Spennymoor. He was employed as a woodman on the estate.
His father Edward died in 1917.
At some point Charles enlisted in the army and after training embarked for France August 25th 1915. Not much is known about his military service except Charles won a Military Medal. The announcement was made in London Gazette 29701 08/08/1916 although details of his bravery are not known. Sadly, by October that year he had been killed in action.
An item written on the Durham at War website relates the following situation in the lead up to his death :
“After spending the rest of August in reserve at Armentieres, 13 DLI returned to the Somme with the 23rd Division. On 7 October, 13 DLI joined an attack on Le Sars. Whilst 12 DLI, assisted by a tank, captured the Tangle, 13 DLI bombed its way into the ruined village. Over 150 Germans were taken prisoner, whilst the battalion suffered some 60 casualties. After this fighting, 13 DLI left the Somme for the Ypres Salient”.
From this information it can be concluded that Charles was probably killed in action whilst his battalion was involved in the attack and capture of Le Sars on the Somme.
Charles appears to have been very close to his sister, Jane as stated in his will all monies were left to her.
Medals: 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal
Charles Barker is remembered at Spennymoor on S131.02, S131.03 and S131.11. at Tudhoe Village on T65.01 and at Tursdale on T62.02
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 277
