Gilbert John (Jack) HARKER

‘Erdington News’ (21 August 1915)

BEREAVEMENT OF MR. AND MRS. E. B. HARKER

PRIVATE JACK HARKER KILLED IN THE TRENCHES

Much sympathy is felt with Mr. and Mrs. E. B. Harker, of Portland Villas, Gravelly Hill North, Erdington, in the sad bereavement they have sustained by the untimely death of their elder son, Private Gilbert John (Jack) Harker, who was killed in action–or, at least, whilst trench digging, at the front–in France, quite recently. The deceased was a great favourite of all who knew him, on account of his intelligence, his love of manly sports, and the marked amiability of his character. He was educated at Whitehead Road Higher Elementary School, Aston, and was formerly a member of the 1st Erdington Troop of Boy Scouts. After leaving school, he was employed at John Wright and Co’s the gas stove manufacturers, of Aston. At the outbreak of the war, twelve months ago, he enlisted in the 5th South Staffordshire Regiment (T.F.), together with several of his fellow-members of the Moor End (Erdington) Cricket Club. He went out to the front at the end of February, and had been through some five months of arduous trench warfare. He was killed in action on August 6th–two days after attaining his 21st birthday. His younger brother is serving in a Signals Company of the Royal Engineers in France. In conveying the sad intelligence of Private Jack Harker’s death to his father, the officer commanding his company (Captain W. A. Wistance) wrote: – “He was digging with a party just behind the trenches when a shell came over and burst close to where he was working, a shrapnel bullet from which struck him in the head. It may ease you to know that death was instantaneous. We all deplore his loss. During the five months out here I never heard him utter a single complaint of the many hardships everyone has gone through. He always showed himself cheerful under the most trying circumstances.”

England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966

1922

HARKER Edwin Baxter of 45 Gravelly-hill North Birmingham died 13 April 1922 Administration Birmingham 5 May to Mary Elizabeth Harker widow. Effects £47.

1958

HARKER Mary Elizabeth of 45 Gravelly Hill North Erdington Birmingham widow died 17 May 1958 at 154 Birmingham Road Sutton Coldfield Warwickshire Probate Birmingham 17 October to William Edmund Harker civil servant. Effects £2237 17s. 3d.