Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

OBITUARY

Major S. W. Barlow

A prominent citizen of Toowoomba, in the person of Major Sydney W. Barlow, died yesterday, aged 54.  Major Barlow, who took an interest for many years in military matters, being connected with the mounted infantry some years ago, and then area officer in conncetion with the cadet trianing went to the front shrotly after the war broke out, and while in Eygpt sustained an injury from which he never recovered.  At first, after his return in Toowoomba, under careful treatment he showed some improvement and took up a selection below the Range, but he was not strong enough for the work.  He afterwards met with an accident, whch upset all the good work that had been done.  His nervous system was completely wrecked, and for an extended period he had suffered exceedingly.  Sometime ago his brother, Mr. J.P. Barlow, accompanied him to a sanitorium in Sydney, and other treatments also had been resorted to, with no permanent relief.

Deceased was a very old member of the Southern Cross Masonic Lodge, and was held in high esteem by all brother Masons.  Prior to the war Major Barlow took up a position as clerk of the Middle Ridge Shire Council, and had taken part in the furhterance of several civic interests in this city.  He leaves a widow and a large family to mourn their loss.  He was a kindly man, and his death will be regretted by a large circle.  The internment today will be of a private nature.

'The death is announced from Toowoomba of Lieut.-Colonel S.W.Barlow, younger brother of Mr Josiah Barlow. He was educated at the North and South State School, and at the  age of 11, became a pupil teacher. After two or three years, he left the service of the Department of Public Instruction, and learned the trade of a carpenter at which he worked  for several years. From his boyhood, he took an interest in the volunteer movement, and as soon as he was old enough, joined the infantry branch of the military service as a private. He soon acquired the non-commissioned rank,and rose to the position of Colour-Sergeant;when the Mounted Infantry was formed by Colonel King he transferred into No. 2 Company, D.D.M., and was appointed to commissioned rank. He eventually rose to the position of commander of the company, and ultimate ly took Colonel King's place as Officer Commanding the Darling Downs Regiment of Light Horse. He saw servlce in South Africa during the Boer war, and was amongst the first to offer his services on the  outbreak of the late war, going away from Enoggera as Major Barlow, second in command of the 11th Light Horse Regiment. Having had active service at Gallipoli, he was placed in charge of a desert column operating under the Equator, and rendered slgnal service, until his health failed, and he was invalided back to Australia.