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

Died on this date - 31st August.....Private Colin Campbell Barr was born at Richmond, Melbourne, Victoria in 1896. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 16th August, 1915 as an 18 year old Farmer from Richmond. His 23 year old brother - David Barr also enlisted on the same day.

Private Colin Campbell Barr & his brother Private David Barr both embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on HMAT Afric (A19) on 5th January, 1916 with the 6th Infantry Brigade, 22nd Infantry Battalion, 8th Reinforcements.

Private Colin Barr was transferred to 57th Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir on 23rd February, 1916. He was admitted to Hospital on 26th February, 1916 with Influenza. He rejoined his Battalion on 11th March, 1916.

Private Colin Barr was transferred to 60th Battalion on 15th March, 1916. He arrived in France on 29th June, 1916. Private Barr was admitted to Field Ambulance on 3rd July, 1916 with Tonsillitis & returned to duty on 5th July, 1916.

Private Colin Barr was reported was wounded in action in France on 19th July, 1916 (Battle of Fromelles) & was invalided to England on Hospital Ship St Denis with gunshot wound/s to back.

From the Australian War Memorial: "Having only arrived in France on 28 June, the 60th became embroiled in its first major battle on the Western Front on 19 July, without the benefit of an introduction to the trenches in a "quiet" sector. The battle of Fromelles was a disaster for the battalion. In a single day, it was virtually wiped out, suffering 757 casualties. These losses meant the battalion saw little further offensive action in 1916."

Private Colin Campbell Barr was admitted to Brook War Hospital, Woolwich, England. He was reported as seriously ill on 31st July, 1916.

According to the book “Fromelles” (page 398) by Patrick Lindsay this was the last letter that Private Colin Campbell Barr wrote to his parents:

"Dear Mother, father and all,
I am in the hospital wounded and happy. I got hit in the back by shrapnel. I didn't know I was hit. I'm sorry to say that Dave got killed. I was lying down when he was speaking to me, he said he wanted father to forgive him for what he done some time back, he died a hero Mother. Visitors come here they are very kind. One girl said when I get better she will take me out for motor rides. The worst of it all mother I never fired a shot at them. We was in the trenches only for about 2 hours, then we done a charge. I was lying in No Man's Land for two days and two nights. How is Bob and Richmond getting on. All the Richmond boys done their best with the 60th. I don't know how G. Collins got on. The nurses are very nice and will do anything for you.
Your loving son, Colin, Ward 32 Brook War Hospital."

Private Colin Campbell Barr died on 31st August, 1916 at Brook War Hospital, Woolwich, England from wounds received in action in France – Septic G.S.W. of lower Lumbar regions. He was buried in Greenwich Cemetery, London where 11 other Australian War Graves are (at this stage none of the others have been researched).

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below) Headstone photo courtesy of Neil Bright.
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/-greenwich.html

Connected to Private Colin Campbell Barr:
Older Brother – David Barr – Enlisted 16th August, 1915 as a 23 year old, Tanner. Service number 3474A. Embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on HMAT Afric (A19) on 5th January, 1916 with 22nd Infantry Battalion, 8th Reinforcements. Killed in action at Fromelles, France 19th July, 1916. Buried V.C. Corner Australian Cemetery and Memorial, Fromelles.
Private David Barr and his brother Private Colin Campbell Barr were remembered in a special Last Post Ceremony commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the battle of Fromelles, held at The Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia on 19th July, 2016.

His older brother 3474A Private David Barr also of the 60th Battalion was killed in action 19 July, 1916, age 26.

As David and Colin crossed no man's land together they were both hit. Colin later wrote, "The worst part of it all [was] I never fired a shot at them." As they lay near each other, David told Colin to ask their father to forgive him - what this forgiveness was for is now forgotten, and David died shortly afterwards. 

Colin had been hit in the back by shrapnel and was sent to hospital in England with wounds to his chest and lungs. A regular visitor to the hospital was Miss Bloxham of Kent, who would try to cheer up the sick men. She wrote of visiting Colin, saying, "He is only 19 and looks even younger ... I thought him a very nice boy." They had many conversations at her weekly visits, and Colin spoke often of David; he was clearly devoted to his brother and devastated by his death. 

One Wednesday Miss Bloxham arrived to find that Colin's condition had deteriorated; he had been moved to a separate ward and was now delirious. She wrote, "He didn't know me, but he held my hand tightly and I hoped he might feel someone belonging to him was there." Colin Barr died later that night, on 31 August 1916.