Contributed by Ron Inglis, October 2021:
Steven Barber 28 was the last Auburn Memorial to enlist in the First AIF. Enlisting on 18 January 1918 at East Sydney, Barber was the only Auburn Memorial man to enlist in 1918.
Barber, a poultry farmer, had enlisted before on 31 May 1917 but shortly after was Discharged medically unfit not due to misconduct. Each time he enlisted, Barber nominated his mother, Mary Barber of Princes Road, Auburn as his next-of-kin.
Private Steven Barber and 7839 Private Harold Stevens 21 were the last of the Auburn Memorial men to embark for the Great War, departing from Melbourne on the Nestor on 28 February 1918 and arriving in Liverpool (UK) on 20 April 1918.
After training on the Salisbury Plain, Private Steven Barber proceeded to France and was taken on strength of the 19th battalion on 13 July 1918. He was killed in action just ten days later. Barber had been in the AIF for just six months. Barber, along with Auburn Memorial men 864 Sidney Dunn and 6537 William Stanley Hewitt, was buried in the Adelaide Cemetery on the western edge of Villers-Bretonneux, France. For his grave the family chose the Latin phrase REQUIESCAT IN PACE.
In 1921 the oldest sibling, Agnes Barber, was informed that as both parents were now deceased, Private Steven Barber’s medals would go to her younger brother under the primogeniture system.
Steven Barber is honoured on the following memorials in Australia:
- Auburn War Memorial
- Municipality of Auburn 1914-1919 Honour Roll
- Roll of Honour Australian War Memorial Canberra
His decorations:
- British War Medal
- 1914-20 Victory Medal
