Son of Mr George Barwick
Husband of Nellie (nee Jolley)
Aged 23 years
Died 26th August 1918
Commemorated at Peronne Road Cemetery, Maricourt
Grave IV. H.2.
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| Born at Rushden, enlisted at Leicester. |
Rushden Echo, September 13th, 1918, transcribed by Greville Watson
Rushden’s Casualty List - Victims of the War
Mrs Barwick, of 15, Park-road, Wellingborough, has been officially informed of the death in action on August 26th of her husband, Lance-Corpl. William Rufus Barwick, of the Field Ambulance, Royal Sussex Regt. The deceased was the eldest son of Mr George Barwick, of Co-operative-row, Rushden, and in January this year whilst on leave he was married to Miss Nellie Jolley, daughter of Mr Wm. Jolley, formerly of Wellingborough-road, Rushden, and now manager for Messrs. West Bros., Park-road, Wellingborough. Had the deceased N.C.O. lived he would have celebrated his 24th birthday on September 24th. A comrade, in a letter to deceased’s wife, states that he died heroically, that death was instantaneous, and that he will be greatly missed by his comrades. The late Lce.-Corpl. Barwick had been on the Western front three years, and was slightly wounded on May 26th this year. He joined the Colours in January, 1915, and went out to France in the following September. Before leaving Rushden he was gardener to the late Mrs Sartoris, of Rushden Hall, leaving that appointment to take up a similar post with Viscount Churchill at Rolleston, near Leicester. He was a grandson of Mr J. Barwick, of 21, Fitzwilliam-street, Rushden.
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 Kettering Leader, 20th September 1918, transcribed by John Collins.
Instantaneous Death - Rushden Soldier Killed in Action
Official information has been received by Mrs. Barwick, 15, Park-road, Wellingborough, that her husband, Lce.-Corpl. W. R. Barwick, was killed in action on the 26th of August. A letter was received from his chum stating that death was instantaneous; that all the boys missed him very much; and that he died like a hero for his country. Lce.-Corpl. Barwick was 23 years of age, and joined up in Kitchener’s Army in January, 1915, in the R.A.M.C., and went out to France on Sept. 29th, 1915, where he was transferred to the Royal Sussex Regt., and was in the Field Ambulance. Lce.-Corpl. Barwick had been out in France for three years, and was slightly wounded on May 26th, 1918. He was formerly of Rushden, and at one time he was a gardener under Viscount Churchill at Rolleston, near Leicester.
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Rushden Echo, 18th October, 1918
Deceased Soldier Honoured
In our issue of Sept. 13th we reported that Lance-Corpl. Wm. Rufus Barwick, Field Ambulance, Royal Sussex Regiment, eldest son of Mr. Geo. Barwick, of Co-operative-row, Rushden, had been killed at the front. His brother-in-law, Lance-Corpl. R. H. Jolley has received a letter from Captain Reckitt stating that Lance-Corpl. Barwick was killed whilst leading a company of stretcher-bearers under heavy fire, and he adds: “Lance-Corpl. Barwick had been with me for a very long time, and was a man for whom I had the very greatest admiration. All stretcher-bearers are good out here, but he was always magnificent, and his quiet and efficient manner in action saved many a life and spared much pain. The company of stretcher-bearers led by him were a fine lot, and never did finer or more gallant work than on the day he sacrificed himself for the benefit of his wounded comrades. He was recommended for and gained the Military Medal for his fine personal work and his leadership during five days of heavy fighting near Morlancourt (near Albert) from Aug. 8th – 13th, and his conduct on August 26th would, had be survived, most certainly have justified his being recommended for the D.C.M.”
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The Wellingborough News Friday 22 August 1919, transcribed by Nicky Bates
In Memoriam
In loving remembrance of my dear husband, Lance-Cpl WILLIAM RUFUS BARWICK, S.R. Royal Sussex Regt., killed in action, August 26th, 1918. Interred at Tulus Bois Cemetery, Carnoy, Albert.
Fold him in Thy Arms, O Lord,
And ever let him be
A messenger of love between
My aching heart and thee.
Gone to his rest through the pathway of duty,
Venturing his life that others may live;
Such are the words on that tablet of beauty
In letters immortal in honour we give.
"Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." From his loving wife, 15 Park road, Wellingborough.
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