🕊OBITUARY | Press - 10 Apr 1962
MAJOR-GENERAL R. E. BARKER
A South Canterbury man who served in two world wars and retired in 1944 with the rank of major-general died in Timaru recently. He was Richard Ernest Barker, C.B.E, of The Downs, Geraldine.
The son of Mr A L. Barker, of Wainui, Winchester, Major-General Barker was born in Christchurch in 1888 and educated at Wanganui Collegiate School and Sherborne School Dorset.
Joining the New Zealand Mounted Rifles in 1907, he was commissioned in the South Lancashire Regiment in 1911, and served with the Indian Signal Corps from 1915 to 1918, part of the time in Mesopotamia. He became political officer in Mesopotamia, Kurdistan, and Persia from 1918 to 1920, and in Ireland from 1920 to 1922. He was transferred to the Royal Corps of Signals in 1921.
Appointed colonel in 1936, he served in Palestine for the next two years. After the outbreak of war, he was Signal Officer in Chief Middle East (acting major-general) under General Wavell. In 1942 he was appointed chief signal officer to the Scottish Command and in 1944 to the same post with the Home Forces. He retired from the army in 1944.
Major-General Barker became a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1941.
He returned to New Zealand on his retirement from the Army, and took up farming on the family property at Wainui. Since the sale of the property little more than a year ago, he has lived at The Downs, Geraldine.
A familiar and respected figure in the district, Major General Barker was an active member of the Geraldine branch of the R.S.A. and was a former president. Federated Farmers also benefited from his work, and he served as vice-president of the Geraldine branch.
He leaves a widow (formerly Miss D. E. Millton), a daughter, and three sons. All three sons have served in the Army and a family reunion in December 1958, included the major-general and three majors (one retired). Major M. M Barker, of the Royal Corps of Signals, was at the time on furlough after completing a three-year term in Malaya. Mr J. R. M. Barker, who at the time of the reunion held field rank in the Territorial Army, is now serving as an officer with the New Zealand Regiment in Malaya. Mr J. L. Barker, a major in the Royal Artillery until coming to New Zealand in 1949 after service in India, farmed at Orton until June last year, when he commenced studies for the ministry of the Church of England.
NZ DEATH RECORD | 1962/24692 - Richard Ernest BARKER age 73
MAJOR-GENERAL R. E. BARKER
A South Canterbury man who served in two world wars and retired in 1944 with the rank of major-general died in Timaru recently. He was Richard Ernest Barker, C.B.E, of The Downs, Geraldine.
The son of Mr A L. Barker, of Wainui, Winchester, Major-General Barker was born in Christchurch in 1888 and educated at Wanganui Collegiate School and Sherborne School Dorset.
Joining the New Zealand Mounted Rifles in 1907, he was commissioned in the South Lancashire Regiment in 1911, and served with the Indian Signal Corps from 1915 to 1918, part of the time in Mesopotamia. He became political officer in Mesopotamia, Kurdistan, and Persia from 1918 to 1920, and in Ireland from 1920 to 1922. He was transferred to the Royal Corps of Signals in 1921.
Appointed colonel in 1936, he served in Palestine for the next two years. After the outbreak of war, he was Signal Officer in Chief Middle East (acting major-general) under General Wavell. In 1942 he was appointed chief signal officer to the Scottish Command and in 1944 to the same post with the Home Forces. He retired from the army in 1944.
Major-General Barker became a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1941.
He returned to New Zealand on his retirement from the Army, and took up farming on the family property at Wainui. Since the sale of the property little more than a year ago, he has lived at The Downs, Geraldine.
A familiar and respected figure in the district, Major General Barker was an active member of the Geraldine branch of the R.S.A. and was a former president. Federated Farmers also benefited from his work, and he served as vice-president of the Geraldine branch.
He leaves a widow (formerly Miss D. E. Millton), a daughter, and three sons. All three sons have served in the Army and a family reunion in December 1958, included the major-general and three majors (one retired). Major M. M Barker, of the Royal Corps of Signals, was at the time on furlough after completing a three-year term in Malaya. Mr J. R. M. Barker, who at the time of the reunion held field rank in the Territorial Army, is now serving as an officer with the New Zealand Regiment in Malaya. Mr J. L. Barker, a major in the Royal Artillery until coming to New Zealand in 1949 after service in India, farmed at Orton until June last year, when he commenced studies for the ministry of the Church of England.
NZ DEATH RECORD | 1962/24692 - Richard Ernest BARKER age 73
🕊OBITUARY | Press - 10 Apr 1962
MAJOR-GENERAL R. E. BARKER
A South Canterbury man who served in two world wars and retired in 1944 with the rank of major-general died in Timaru recently. He was Richard Ernest Barker, C.B.E, of The Downs, Geraldine.
The son of Mr A L. Barker, of Wainui, Winchester, Major-General Barker was born in Christchurch in 1888 and educated at Wanganui Collegiate School and Sherborne School Dorset.
Joining the New Zealand Mounted Rifles in 1907, he was commissioned in the South Lancashire Regiment in 1911, and served with the Indian Signal Corps from 1915 to 1918, part of the time in Mesopotamia. He became political officer in Mesopotamia, Kurdistan, and Persia from 1918 to 1920, and in Ireland from 1920 to 1922. He was transferred to the Royal Corps of Signals in 1921.
Appointed colonel in 1936, he served in Palestine for the next two years. After the outbreak of war, he was Signal Officer in Chief Middle East (acting major-general) under General Wavell. In 1942 he was appointed chief signal officer to the Scottish Command and in 1944 to the same post with the Home Forces. He retired from the army in 1944.
Major-General Barker became a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1941.
He returned to New Zealand on his retirement from the Army, and took up farming on the family property at Wainui. Since the sale of the property little more than a year ago, he has lived at The Downs, Geraldine.
A familiar and respected figure in the district, Major General Barker was an active member of the Geraldine branch of the R.S.A. and was a former president. Federated Farmers also benefited from his work, and he served as vice-president of the Geraldine branch.
He leaves a widow (formerly Miss D. E. Millton), a daughter, and three sons. All three sons have served in the Army and a family reunion in December 1958, included the major-general and three majors (one retired). Major M. M Barker, of the Royal Corps of Signals, was at the time on furlough after completing a three-year term in Malaya. Mr J. R. M. Barker, who at the time of the reunion held field rank in the Territorial Army, is now serving as an officer with the New Zealand Regiment in Malaya. Mr J. L. Barker, a major in the Royal Artillery until coming to New Zealand in 1949 after service in India, farmed at Orton until June last year, when he commenced studies for the ministry of the Church of England.
NZ DEATH RECORD | 1962/24692 - Richard Ernest BARKER age 73
MAJOR-GENERAL R. E. BARKER
A South Canterbury man who served in two world wars and retired in 1944 with the rank of major-general died in Timaru recently. He was Richard Ernest Barker, C.B.E, of The Downs, Geraldine.
The son of Mr A L. Barker, of Wainui, Winchester, Major-General Barker was born in Christchurch in 1888 and educated at Wanganui Collegiate School and Sherborne School Dorset.
Joining the New Zealand Mounted Rifles in 1907, he was commissioned in the South Lancashire Regiment in 1911, and served with the Indian Signal Corps from 1915 to 1918, part of the time in Mesopotamia. He became political officer in Mesopotamia, Kurdistan, and Persia from 1918 to 1920, and in Ireland from 1920 to 1922. He was transferred to the Royal Corps of Signals in 1921.
Appointed colonel in 1936, he served in Palestine for the next two years. After the outbreak of war, he was Signal Officer in Chief Middle East (acting major-general) under General Wavell. In 1942 he was appointed chief signal officer to the Scottish Command and in 1944 to the same post with the Home Forces. He retired from the army in 1944.
Major-General Barker became a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1941.
He returned to New Zealand on his retirement from the Army, and took up farming on the family property at Wainui. Since the sale of the property little more than a year ago, he has lived at The Downs, Geraldine.
A familiar and respected figure in the district, Major General Barker was an active member of the Geraldine branch of the R.S.A. and was a former president. Federated Farmers also benefited from his work, and he served as vice-president of the Geraldine branch.
He leaves a widow (formerly Miss D. E. Millton), a daughter, and three sons. All three sons have served in the Army and a family reunion in December 1958, included the major-general and three majors (one retired). Major M. M Barker, of the Royal Corps of Signals, was at the time on furlough after completing a three-year term in Malaya. Mr J. R. M. Barker, who at the time of the reunion held field rank in the Territorial Army, is now serving as an officer with the New Zealand Regiment in Malaya. Mr J. L. Barker, a major in the Royal Artillery until coming to New Zealand in 1949 after service in India, farmed at Orton until June last year, when he commenced studies for the ministry of the Church of England.
NZ DEATH RECORD | 1962/24692 - Richard Ernest BARKER age 73
Inscription
In memory of
Richard Ernest Barker C.B.E.
Major-General Royal Signals
1888 - 1962
3rd son of Arthur & Helen
And his wife
Dorothy Enid
1898 - 1977
2nd daughter of
Frederick & Lilian Millton
Gravesite Details
Funeral service: 09 Apr 1962 at St Mary's Church, Geraldine
Cremation: 09 Apr 1962 at Christchurch Crematorium (interment details not recorded in the online database)
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
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