March 30, 2007 

The research into the short life of Pte. Archibald Barrow became a family affair. Needless to say we have done much of our research via the Internet. We have also visited the Royal Canadian Legion (Branch 119) and well as the two War Memorials in the town of Ingersoll. We have been to the Woodstock Museum and to the Woodstock Public Library. I have been in contact with the Oxford Historical/Genealogy Society. The chief archivist, Mary Gladwin, at the Oxford County Archives in Beachville was very helpful as was technician, Vicki Wahl, at the Ingersoll Public Library. The kind folks at the Burgessville School Museum have dug up some information as well. We have purchased a copy of his military service records from Archives Canada in Ottawa. 

This is a summary of the information that we have uncovered about “our” brave Archie:  

He was born in Ingersoll, Ontario on October 10th, 1899. His father was Charles Barrow and his mother was Mary Barrow (nee Saunders). His father was a tailor at the business establishment of Smith and Kerr. He was the second youngest of the family of eleven children born between 1882 and 1902. The Barrow family lived on King St. West in Ingersoll. The family attended St. James Church (Church of England) in Ingersoll. 

His name appears on the register of an Ingersoll school in 1913.  

Archie was one of the younger members of the 168th Battalion (B Company) Canadian Expeditionary Force.  The Battalion was know as “Oxford’s Own.” We believe that he was not honest about his age when he enlisted on January 20th, 1916 in Ingersoll. His attestion papers indicate that he was a labourer born in 1898. He was unmarried.  He was 5'6" in height with brown eyes, dark hair and a medium complexion.  Private Barrow's regimental number was 675298. He had resided in Ingersoll all his life up to the time of his enlistment.  

He sailed on a steamer called the "Lapland" to England from Halifax in the fall of 1916 after training at Camp Borden. Upon arrival in England the 168th Battalion was broken up and Archie was sent first to the 39th Reserve Battalion and then to the 6th Reserve Battalion before finally being transferred to the 21st Canadian Infantry Unit in the battle zone.  

He died on April 9, 1917 during the Battle of Vimy Ridge. An Ingersoll newspaper of the time indicated that Archie was the first Ingersoll man of "Oxford's Own" to be killed in action. His obituary states that "he was well and favourably known, and possessed a disposition that really won him friends". He is buried in a mass grave at Zivy Crater Cemetery (#1323), Thelus, France.  

His father predeased him in March 1916 at the age of 61 and his mother died in January 1929 at the age of 73.  

Archie's name appears on Page 197 of the Canadian Book of Remembrance that is displayed in the Peace Tower in Ottawa. His name is also appears on a War Memorial in downtown Ingersoll and on a War Memorial in the Ingersoll Rural Cemetery.  A framed scroll in the foyer of RC Legion in Ingersoll includes his name as well. 

"Lest We Forget"