Heene Hallmark
Frederick Rowland Barker M.B.E. 1853 - 1922
Military Veteran
Frederick Rowland Barker was born in Stoke upon Trent, Staffordshire, to Edmond John Barker, 35yrs, a Doctor of Medicine, and Emma Barker nee Rowland, 28yrs, on March 3rd, 1853. He had an older sister, Anna, 1yr. and a younger sister, Frances, was born in 1858. He followed his father into Medicine, studying at the Royal Medical Benevolent College, Epsom, before attending London University to study Medicine, qualifying as a doctor in 1879 as a Surgeon-Major, Army Medical Service, Dover. He saw service in the Turco-Serbian War 1876/7 and served with the Ambulance and Hospital Staff of the Stafford House Committee to the Turkish Army during the Russo-Turkish War 1877-1878.**
In 1886 Frederick became a Mason joining the Aldershot Army and Navy Lodge.
Frederick married Anne Isabella Mason on 25th January 1888 at St. Cuthbert's, Bedford, they then lived at Alverstoke, Hampshire, he was promoted to Surgeon Captain in 1892.
After a distinguished Army career, Frederick retired as Lieutenant-Colonel in 1906, living at Aldershot, Hampshire, he and Anne had no children. In 1911 Anne died, aged 51yrs, in Worthing, Sussex.
In 1913, aged 60yrs, Frederick married Esther Clare Morley, 30yrs, in Cambridge. In 1914 at the outbreak of war Frederick re-enlisted with the R.A. Medical Corp and was awarded an MBE for his service in the War honours list in 1920. He was also the Honorary Secretary of his local branch of the British Red Cross Society.
Frederick Rowland Barker, MBE, MB, of The Haven, Mill Road, Worthing, died on January 20th, 1922, aged 68yrs.
** The Stafford House Committee for the Relief of Sick and Wounded Turkish soldiers of the Russo-Turkish War, 1877-78, formed a committee, of which the Duke of Sutherland was unanimously elected Chairman, for the purpose of inviting subscriptions from the public with a view to supplying the sick and wounded Turkish soldiers with warm clothing and medicines. It was set up in London by members of the aristocracy, to provide medical and ambulance transport facilities in the middle east during the Russo-Turkish war of1877.
To transport the vast number of wounded, the Roumelian line railway was used, and Frederick Barker was in charge of the transport system which entailed not just medical care, but actual feeding of the soldiers, who were extremely malnourished, and soup kitchens were set up along the line which helped save many lives. Soup, rice, bread, coffee and tobacco were offered to the soldiers, sometimes they were on board for up to 3 days before reaching hospitals. Frederick had four assistants to help with thousands of rations.
The Stafford House Committee had lent a railway waggon equipped with medical and surgical appliances, which was attached to the train carrying the wounded. Frederick travelled continually in his surgeon's van, dressing cases en route, and severe cases were supplied with mattresses and covers!