Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Births Jun 1890 Bartlett John William Frome 5c 450.

His birth was registered as John William.

He served with the The Fighting Fourth 4th Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st Australian Division, Australian Imperial Force.

He was 27 and the son  of Charles and Jane Bartlett, of 29, Collwyn St., Coed Ely, Llantrisant, Glamorganshire,  Wales. 

He died in hospital in London on 20 August 1916 of wounds suffered at Pozières.

Enlisted and served under the alias of John Barkell

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland 

Died on this date – 20th August…… William John Bartlett was born at Spring Garden, Frome, Somerset, England in 1889. His father – Charles Bartlett died in 1898 & his mother – Susan Jane Bartlett remarried in 1900 to James Webber.

According to information provided by his mother for the Roll of Honour – William John Bartlett came to Australia when he was 21 years old.

William John Bartlett enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 17th August, 1914 under the name of "John Barkell" & stated he was a 27 year old, single, Labourer (he stated he was born at Llantrissant, Glamorgan, South Wales) from Paddington, Sydney, NSW.

On 20th October, 1914 Private “John Barkell”, Service number 89, embarked from Sydney, NSW on HMAT Euripides (A14) with the 4th Infantry Battalion “C” Company.

He embarked from Alexandria on Troopship Lake Michigan on 5th April, 1915 to join M.E.F. (Mediterranean Expeditionary Force) - Gallipoli Campaign.

Private “Barkell” was wounded at Anzac & was admitted to 3rd Field Ambulance on 6th August, 1915 with G.S.W. (gunshot wound/s) to left hand then transferred to Mudros. Private “Barkell” was admitted to 1st Australian Stationary Hospital at Lemnos on 9th August, 1915. He embarked for England on Hospital Ship Andania from Mudros on 17th August, 1915.

On 30th August, 1915 Private “Barkell” was admitted to The King George Hospital, Stamford Street, London, England with G.S.W. to left thumb (partial amputation). He was discharged on 6th October, 1915.

He was admonished & forfeited 5 days pay on 25th October, 1915 for Absence without Leave from Australian & New Zealand Base Depot at London from 21st October, 1915 to 25th October, 1915 (5 days).
Private “Barkell” was admitted to Australian Intermediate Base Depot at Abbey Wood, England on 19th November, 1915.
On 27th November, 1915 he was admitted to Military Hospital, Rochester, England. He was transferred to Military Hospital, Bulford, Wiltshire on 15th January, 1916. Total period VD – 50 days.
He was included in No. 25 Draft returning to join M.E.F.(Mediterranean Expeditionary Force) from Weymouth Base Depot, England. He disembarked at Alexandria from H. T. Huntspill on 5th April, 1916.
Private “Barkell” was admitted to No. 17 General Hospital at Alexandria on 6th April, 1916. He was transferred & admitted to 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital at Abbassia on 2nd May, 1916 with V.D.

On 12th June, 1916 Private “Barkell” was awarded 28 days Field Punishment No. 2 for “(1) Conduct to the prejudice of good order & Military discipline in that he at 1st A. D. Hospital, Abbassia did not fall in to answer his name at 5.30 am Roll Call. (2) Conduct to the prejudice of good order & Military discipline in that he at 1st A. D. Hospital, Abbassia on 11/6/1916 after being told he was too late to me marked “present” said to S/Sgt Nish “F*&k you then.”

He was discharged from 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital & transferred to Detention Barracks at Abbassia on 13th June, 1916. He was re-admitted to 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital at Abbassia on 8th July, 1916. Private “Barkell” was discharged to Quarantine Details on 10th July, 1916 & discharged to duty on 11th July, 1916. He was taken on strength of 1st Divisional Base Depot at Tel-el-Kebir on 11th July, 1916.

Private “Barkell” embarked from Alexandria on 29th July, 1916 on H. T. Arcadian. He was taken on strength of 1st Training Battalion in England on 9th August, 1916.

On 15th August, 1916 Private “Barkell” was admitted to Military Hospital, Tidworth, Wiltshire, England with Thrombosis of Art of Brain. The Hospital Admissions form recorded “Decompression operation R ___ . Returned paraplegia.” He was reported to be dangerously ill on 20th August, 1916.

Private “John Barkell” died on 20th August, 1916 at Military Hospital, Tidworth, Wiltshire, England from Thrombosis of Art of Brain.

Base Records wrote to Mrs Barkell, 8 Saltram Crescent, Paddington, London on 9th December, 1916 with the following : “Information has been received from Military Hospital, Tidworth, that the body of (late No. 89 Private Barkell James. 4th Battalion A.I.F.) was sent to your residence for interment. Could this Office be advised, please, the following particulars, Grave Site, grave site number and date of Burial, for Records purposes in this Office.”

Private “John Barkell” was buried on 25th August, 1916 in Paddington Old Cemetery, Kilburn, Greater London, England. His body was later exhumed & reinterred in a separate single grave still within Paddington Old Cemetery.

Base Records wrote to A.I.F. Administrative Headquarters, Westminster, London, on 6th March, 1917 regarding No. 89 Private J. Barkell, 4th Battalion (deceased): “It is intimated that the abovenamed deceased soldier who died on the 30th August 1916, was married on 16th March 1916 and from letters received from his widow, it appears that he made a Will prior to marriage in favor of his Mother Mrs Webber No. 3 Elwyn Street, Coed Ely. Enclosed herewith certified copy of Certificate of Marriage and original letters (2) received from Mrs Barkell for your information.”

[A marriage was registered in the March quarter, 1916 in the district of Paddington, London, Middlesex, England between John Barkell & Matilda I. E. Whymark.]

A War Pension issued to Mrs M. I. E. Barkell, 2 Saltram Rd, Shirland Road, Paddington, widow of the late Private John Barkell, was to cease from 3rd December, 1919 as claimant had remarried – now Sweeney.

[A marriage was registered in the December quarter, 1917 in the district of Lewes, Sussex, between Matilda I. E. Barkell & John F. Sweeney.]

**NOTE – Based on previous research - when a soldier enlisted under an assumed name there would be some mention in the Service Record file that he had enlisted under an assumed name & Statutory Declarations would be required by the next-of-kin. No mention is made in the Service Record file of Private “John Barkell” that he enlisted under an assumed name; nor does it mention his real name was William John Bartlett.

It is also unknown why he enlisted under an assumed name.

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/-paddington-old.html