PRIVATE WILLIAM HARRY BARLOW

Private William Harry Barlow was born in Wellington Station, Prince Edward Island, in November, 1895.  He was the fourth of 6 children born to Samuel and Florence Barlow.  Harry’s sister, Matilda (1906-1986) is Jayk’s paternal Great-Grandmother.

The Barlows were a well known family in the Wellington area and ran both a milling and farming operation. As a young man, Harry attended school in Wellington, playing in a local wind and brass band, and working at the family’s grist, carding, and saw mills with his parents and siblings.

Harry joined the 85^th Battalion of the Canadian Infantry Nova Scotia Regiment (Highlanders) as a Private in 1917 (Service Number: 3204048; Force: Army).  In a letter to his mother, dated April 27, 1918, sent from Camp Bramshott, England, one of three facilities in the Aldershot Command Area established by the Canadian Army in World War I, Harry wrote:

“Dear Mama:  Just a few lines to let you know I am still feeling not too bad and hope you are all well and getting along good.  The weather is beautiful here now.  Everything looks just like July.  It is great to listen to the birds singing.  They remind me of home.

We haven’t moved yet but will be moving soon I think.  We are getting lots of work now and I don’t get much time to write.  So if you are long without hearing from me, don’t get uneasy. 

This is Saturday, sports day, a big day in the camp, but no rest.  Everybody has to take part in it.  There is lots of fun though. 

I wish I was handy home so I could hear from you often and go to see you once in awhile.  But let us hope it will not be long till I get back.

The killing goes pretty hard with me.  I don’t know if I’ll stand it or not.  My legs give out on me.

Did you get my civies yet?  I wrote to Everett to send them up.  What are they doing in the mills this year?  Did they get anybody to run the carding mill for them and who is he?  Did Willy and Papa give up the notion of going to Halifax?  I wrote to Winnie but I don’t suppose she will answer.  I hope she is feeling alright now.

Now Mama, as I have more letters to write, I’ll stop for now hoping when this reaches you, you will all be well and the war will be over.  Take good care of yourselves and answer soon.  Love to you all, Harry.”

On August 31, 1918, Harry sent a Regimental photograph of himself to his parents.  On the back of the photograph, Harry wrote:

“This isn’t much a picture but it is the only one I can send you for awhile.  As you can see, I am not half dressed.  I look pretty slobby.  It really doesn’t give me justice.  I’ll write you a long letter as soon as I get a chance.  Best Love to all, Harry.”

On the morning of September 27^th, while advancing towards enemy positions with his company (“D.”) near Cambrai, France, during the campaign known as Arras and the ‘Hundred Days’, an enemy shell landed very near him.  A piece of shrapnel from the blast hit him in the head and Harry died shortly afterwards.

In a letter issued to Mrs. Samuel Barlow, dated November 26, 1918, Lt. Colonel J.D. Rabton, Commanding Officer, 85^th Canadian Infantry Battalion, Nova Scotia Highlanders, stated that Harry showed himself to be entirely worthy of the splendid traditions which have always characterized the Canadian Corps.  Harry’s steadiness and gallantry in action are a lasting reflection of the greatest credit upon himself, his Battalion and his native land, and a memory to be cherished by all those who knew him.

According to Lt. Colonel Rabton, the battle in which Harry was killed was one of the most important of the whole war, the breaking of the Hindenburg Line.  There had been a series of significant operations near Arras, France, within which the Canadian Corps was actively engaged.  These operations proved to be the final undoing of the enemy.

Harry was buried at the Quarry Wood Cemetery, Sains-Les-Marquion, France.  It contains the graves of 263 Canadian Soldiers, 12 from the United Kingdom, one Officer of the R.A.F., and one Marine, all of whom fell in September or October, 1918.  Among the graves, five are unnamed and there is a special memorial in honour of one Canadian Officer believed to be buried among them.