Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

"OBITUARY.  FREDERIECK JOHN BARTON 

The passing of Frederick John Barton at Bowen on 7th Febuary removed a link with the early military history of Bowen, and with the days when the horse reigned supreme. The deceased was a born a horseman and a soldier of long standing. He was 63 years of age at the time of his passing, being born at the old Barton home next to Palm Cottage, the youngest son of two Bowen pioneers, Mr. and Mrs. William Barton. His parents had come in Bowen as early as 1863 in the sailing ship "Maryborough,” and hailed from West Meath, in Ireland. His father was in charge of a detachment of black police stationed at Kirknie, and it is on record that one of the men he trained, Hero, was sent to N.S.W. to track down the Kelly Gang. The late Mr. Barton's father was later a teamster, so that it is not surprising that Fred learned to ride a horse as soon as he could walk. From earliest youth he worked with horses and cattle, among his employers being the late W. Cameron, A. J. Hall-Scott and A. H. W. Cunningham. He learned a wonderful understanding of horses, and it was said that there was no horse that “Mickey” Burton couldn't tame. Apart from general stock work, he was for many years called upon to take part in breaking in and training horses, becoming a pastmaster at this work. He also took part in training race horses. On returning from the first World War he helped in the shipping of horses from Bowen to India, working for Hegarty Brothers, and also made a voyage to New Guinea in the sailing ship "Huddersfield" in charge of a shipment of cattle, from Salisbury Plains to that territory. During this period he also undertook mail contracts in the Bowen and Proserplne districts. He toured the Central districts buying horses for overseas. In this connection, Freddy often told the story of how he arrived at a Central Queensland hotel on a thirsty morning, and sat on the verandah, dressed in khaki and wearing his old Light Horse hat. Many people passed back and forth and stared curiously at him, and the publican came out and gave him unfriendly looks. After about an hour he asked the publican could he get a drink, and mine host hedged very cautiously that he could not sell drinks on a Sunday. Eventually he asked the puzzled Fred was he a policeman, and when told this was not the case, shouted furiously to "take that d--- hat out of this and stop frightening away my Sunday morning customers!"

Deceased was also employed between the wars as a stockman at the Merinda Meatworks. After World War II, he entered the railway service and was employed there until his death. However, he still kept his love of horses, and always owned a number of them. He provided horses for rodeo work, and was noted throughout the district as a man who could bundle any horse, and give advice on any problem regarding man's equine friend. It was natural that one so well versed in the ways of horses should gravitate to cavalry service, and Fred was only eighteen when he joined the Queensland Mounted Infantry at the beginning of the century. He took part in all the activities of the Bowen troop prior to the Great War, attending camps at Townsville, and in 1903 with Messrs. Fred Cheflins and W. Lynch, took 72 horses overland from Bowen to Townsville for that year’s camp. He enlisted in the A.I.F. in 1915 and his experience made him valuable as an sergeant instructor. He was sent to Brisbane on instructional work, and later went overseas, joining Allenby’s' forces in Egypt, he served in many capacities in the Middle East, being attached to the Bengal Lancers for a period, and later joining the Imperial Camel Corps. Some of his experiences in this unit were included in the late Alax. Vennard’s war book, "The Fighting Cameliers." Later he transferred to the 13th Light Horse Regiment. Another favourite story of deceased's was the "conversion course" by which Cameliers were trained to again become horsemen. Wooden horses were erected in the desert near Suez, and the disgusted Cameliers were made to go through horse-riding drill. As most of them were horsemen of lifelong standing, it is no wonder that many found the process ridiculous.

Fred took part in the battles of Beersheba and Gaza, On one occasion during a battle, he and fellow Bowenite, Fred Cheffins, found themselves by night at a desert well. They filled water bottles and enjoyed quenching great thirsts until fellow troopers found a dead Arab in the well! Deceased had many such anecdotes to tell of his experiences. When the war ended he visited the family’s relatives in Ireland. Perhaps his skill as a raconteur was due to the fact that he took the opportunity to visit and kiss the Blarney Stone. He told friends later that there was a catch attached to doing so, for to kiss the famous stone one had to be suspended by the ankles down a well, and any loose change in the pockets fell into the well, to the enrichment of the locals. When the second World War broke out, deceased tried hard to enlist for further active service, but without success, so he took the alternative of serving in a Garrison Battalion, which he did until war ended. He earned  the Long Service Decoration among other military decorations. His passing came as a sad blow to his family, and many friends and old comrades, and military honours were paid to him by R.S.L. members attending the funeral. He is survived by a widow, one brother Tom (Townsville), and three sisters, Mesdames, T. W. Kirby: (Stafford), J. Gordon and W. T. Kyles (Bowen). Deep sympathy is extended to them in their loss." - from the Bowen Independent 27 Feb 1948 (nla.gov.au)