On 12 April 1918, Sergeant Lawrence Barber of the 36 battalion was in a machine gun post with a Lewis gun crew at the extreme right flank of the British lines. The next post to his right was held by the French. A heavy German artillery barrage opened up on the French positions. The commander of Barber’s post left the line to confer with his French colleagues but was killed before he could return. The French sent a desperate plea for assistance and Barber led his crew out into the open to help repel a German attack on the gap between the British and French positions. Later, after returning to his post, their position came under heavy shellfire. Barber maintained the position and kept his Lewis gun operational even after all the men at his post had been killed.
His valour was said to have helped prevent a military disaster and allowed the allies time to restore their lines. For this action, the Granville resident and one-time Granville Rechabites footballer was awarded the Military Medal.
In August 1918 Barber was severely gassed and was repatriated to Australia. Friends said he was never quite the same again. He died in 1934 at the age of 40.