Graham Barker was born on 21 June 1946 at 88 Stanfield Road, Winton, Bournemouth, Hampshire (now Dorset), the youngest of the four children of Ronald Charles George Barker (1909-1954) and Zoe Margaret Barker, née Payne (1914-2010). His birth was registered in the 2nd quarter in the Bournemouth Registration District. His three siblings were: Jane Barker (1940-1943); Kenneth R. Barker (b.1942) and Nigel G. Barker (b.1944).
He joined the army in 1962 and after completing his initial training he went on a pupils' course in 1964 at the Royal Military School of Music when it was at Kneller Hall, 65 Kneller Road, Twickenham, TW2 7DN.
In 1969 he was married to his wife, Sandra and they went to live in Tidworth, Wiltshire. They had two children, a boy and girl.
He was a euphonium player in the Band of the 1st Battalion, The Royal Green Jackets, service number 23896364, when he was murdered, aged 36 years, on 20 July 1982 by the Irish Republican Army who had planted an improvised explosive device under the bandstand upon which he was performing in Regent's Park. Following the Coroner's Inquest, his death was registered in the 4th quarter of 1982 in the Westminster Registration District, London and his body was buried in Grave 92 RH Side in the Redlynch Lawn Cemetery, Grove Lane, Redlynch, Salisbury, SP5 2NR.
Probate records show that his address had been Lilac Cottage, Church Hill, Redlynch, Salisbury, Hampshire and that when probate was granted on 29 September 1982 his effects totalled £21,265.
He is shown as WO2. G. BARKER on the memorial plaque attached to the bandstand in Regent's Park, London, NW1. His name also appears on the Armed Forces Memorial Roll of Honour and is carved on the Armed Forces Memorial at Croxall Road, Burton-on-Trent, DE13 7AR.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
