Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Although the 1901 Irish Census states he was born in Glasgow, at attestation, he stated is birthplace as Drogheda Ireland-this is also recorded on the AIF Project. Drogheda is in County Louth, Ireland
True Name-BARKER-served as Hogan, the surname his mother used.
Address-Regent Street, Sydney, New South Wales
Next of kin-Mother, Mrs Margaret Hogan, Cora Road, Drogheda, Ireland.
Previous military service Nil (previously rejected for enlistment on account of defective toes)
Enlistment date-23 May 1916
Place of enlistment-Sydney, New South Wales

55th Battalion, 6th Reinforcement.

Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A40 Ceramic on 7 October 1916-he was said to be 30.

Parents: Patrick and Margaret Barker, 99 Chord Road, Drogheda, Co Louth, Ireland-Margaret styled herself as Margaret Hogan.
War service: Western Front

Embarked Sydney, 7 October 1916; disembarked Plymouth, England, 21 November 1916 and then proceeded overseas to France, 21 December 1916; taken on strength, 55th Bn, 8 February 1917.

His true name is Patrick Barker - however his initial enlistment recorded a family name of HOGAN.

He was the son of Patrick and Margaret Barker (née Carter).

Patrick BARKER (alias Patrick HOGAN) was born on 20th April 1879 at Glasgow in Scotland (according to his father, Patrick Barker senior). By the time he reached school age his family had moved to Drogheda in Ireland. He went to school there. He migrated to Australia via America, but his parents stayed in Ireland. He joined the NSW Government Railways using the name Patrick HOGAN, as a labourer in the Engineer for Tramways Branch in Sydney on 29th March 1915. On 23rd May 1916 he was granted leave to join the Expeditionary Forces.

He joined the AIF on 23rd May 1916, again using the name Patrick Hogan. He had the rank of Private (Service Number 2781) and he was posted to the 6th Reinforcements to the 55th Infantry Battalion. On his Attestation Paper he stated that he was born at Drogheda in Ireland. He gave his age as being one month short of 30 years (when in fact he was 37), and he nominated his mother as his next of kin, calling her Margaret Hogan. In December 1917, the AIF amended his nominated next of kin to his father, who was living at the same address as his mother, and changed his name on all his records to Patrick BARKER.

Patrick embarked for England aboard HMAT A40 ‘Ceramic’ at Sydney on 7th October 1916 and arrived at Plymouth on 21st November 1916. One month later, on 21st December 1916, he left England for France. He reached the 5th Australian Division Base Depot at Etaples the following day. He remained  there until 5th February 1917. On 8th February 1917, he was taken on strength of the 55th Infantry Battalion in the field.

On 26th September 1917 he was killed in action at Polygon Wood in Belgium. His grave is in Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood, Zonnebeke, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium. The Australian War Memorial gives his place of association as Sydney, NSW.

- based on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board.