Regimental number | 67 |
Place of birth | Bareena, Victoria |
Other Names | Andrew Ernest Ralph |
School | Geelong College, Victoria |
Religion | Methodist |
Occupation | Carpenter |
Address | Geelong, Victoria |
Marital status | Single |
Age at embarkation | 23 |
Height | 5' 8" |
Weight | 140 lbs |
Next of kin | Father, A Barnfather, Geelong, Victoria |
Previous military service | Served as Sergeant Major, 29th Light Horse Regiment, Geelong. |
Enlistment date | |
Place of enlistment | Melbourne, Victoria |
Rank on enlistment | Staff Sergeant Major |
Unit name | 4th Light Horse Regiment, A Squadron |
AWM Embarkation Roll number | 10/9/1 |
Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board Transport A18 Wiltshire on |
Rank from Nominal Roll | 2nd Lieutenant |
Unit from Nominal Roll | 58th Battalion |
Fate | Killed in Action |
Date of death | |
Age at death from cemetery records | 24 |
Place of burial | No known grave |
Commemoration details | V.C. Corner (Panel No 13), Australian Cemetery, Fromelles, France |
Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 165 |
Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: Andrew and Maria BARNFATHER, 60 Clarendon Street, Geelong, Victoria |
Family/military connections | Brother-in-law: 9065 Driver Hector Alfred SADLER, 6th Field Artillery Brigade, killed in action, 30 July 1916. |
Other details |
War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front Embarked Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Gallipoli, 15 May 1915. Disembarked Alexandria, 27 December 1915 (general Gallipoli evacuation). Appointed 2nd Lieutenant, 58th Bn, and struck off strength of 4th Light Horse Regiment. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 17 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916. Reported missing, 19 July 1916. Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 6 August 1916, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 19 July 1916'. Red Cross Record No 241002 has statement from 2206 Lance Corporal Leslie MILLS, A Company, 58th Bn (patient, Eye & Ear Hospital, Mount Sion, Tunbridge Wells, Kent), 5 August [1916?]: 'Informant states that on July 20/16 at Fleurbaix south of Armentieres 2nd Lieut. Barnfather he believes was killed in action. Lieut. Barnfather went out as one of the leaders in an attack on German trenches. They got into the trenches, but he is sure no English prisoners were taken.' Second statement, 151 Trooper R. MORRIS, 2nd Anzac Cavalry (patient, Kingswood Park Hospital, Tunbridge Wells, Kent), 28 August 1916: 'Informant states that on 20th July at Albert, France during the advance he saw Mr. Barnfather fall, shot through the throat. He knew he could not live.' Third statement, 2nd Lt N.I. BURNS (patient, 30th General Hospital, Calais), 2 October 1916: 'Lt Barnfather fell shortly after we got over, and both his and Lt. Scott's bodies were seen but not recovered. This was at Fromelles, but more to the right than where Bruce fell.' Fourth statement, 3344 F.J. McKAY, 58th Bn, 13 November 1917: 'I saw Casualty killed at Fleurs on the 19th July, 1916 in the act of leaving the trench, by H.E. shell. Casualty was properly buried.' Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
Sources | NAA: B2455, BARNFATHER Ralph
Red Cross file 241002 |