William George Barter

Story:
William George Barter was born in 1895 in the registration district of Shaftesbury. He was the son of Frederick Sidney Barter, an agricultural labourer, and Elizabeth Jane Barter (nŽée Sims). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a grocer and living at Throop Farm, near Christchurch, Hampshire. He enlisted at Fort Brockhurst, Gosport, Hampshire, and joined the Royal Garrison Artillery (Service No. 66659) and served with the Expeditionary Force in France. Moving from Battery to Battery he was eventually promoted to Bombardier and finished up with the 39th Brigade. On 29th September 1918 he returned to the UK for officer training with the Royal Air Force during which time he held a temporary commission. Shortly after his posting to RAF Flying School he contracted Cerebo Spinal Fever and was admitted to Fulham Military Hospital, Dunstans Road, London, W.8. where he died on 16th October 1918. He was buried in the churchyard to the north of St. Bartholomew's Church, Sutton Waldron, Dorset. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He is remembered on the Sutton Waldron section of the War Memorial at Iwerne Minster (the inscription gives Hampstead as his place of death.)