Click to Enlarge
Full Name:
Date of Birth:
Place of Birth:
Antigonish District:
Service Rank or Number:
Date of Enlistment:
Location of Enlistment:
Theatres of Service:
Conflicts:
Rank on Retirement or Discharge:
Medals & Decorations:
Italy Star
Defence Medal
War Medal
Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Overseas Clasp
Click to Enlarge
Biography
Private George William Barter was born March 21, 1921 in the town of Antigonish, Antigonish County. He was the son of George Barter and Mabel Turnbull.
Barter’s brother Stanley Barter also served in the Second World War and his uncle William Turnbull was a veteran of the First World War.
Barter worked at the fish hatchery in Frasers Mills, Antigonish County then worked for the provincial fish hatchery in Margaree, Inverness County. Before enlistment, Barter worked as a truck driver for the provincial fish hatchery in Margaree, Inverness County.
Barter enlisted in the Canadian Army on January 15, 1940 at Aldershot Camp in Kings County, Nova Scotia. He then trained at Camp Borden in Simcoe County, Ontario, from February 2 to June 6, 1940. Barter was sent overseas in June of 1940, departing from Halifax on June 9, 1940 and arriving in Liverpool, England on June 20, 1940. He was transfered to the 1st Canadian Division Head Quarters in Borden on July 26, 1940 and was later transferred to the Western Nova Scotia Regiment.
In July of 1943, Barter’s unit was sent to participate in the Battle of Italy. On July 5 1943, Barter was aboard the MV Devis bound for Sicily when the ship was hit by a torpedo in the Mediterranean. His personnel record states that he was in the mess deck at the time of the explosion. Of the crew; two hundred and ninty people survived and fifty two people were killed.
Barter was killed in the explosion. He was reported missing in active service on July 5, 1943 and was later reported as “missing at sea”. His name is engraved on Panel 14 of the Cassino Memorial in Cassino, Frosinone, Italy.
Additional Media
Return to the Antigonish Area Veterans Search