Henry Victor Barber was nineteen years and nine months old when he enlisted in Richmond, Victoria, on 29 August 1916. He was the son of Jessie and James Barber, of 5 Albert St., East Melbourne and his elder brother, Albert, followed him into the AIF only three months later. It was this address which Henry and Albert recorded as their own, suggesting that they still lived in the family home. Soon after, Jessie and James Barber moved from East Melbourne ot Highett St., Richmond.

By occupation, Henry was a labourer. He had previous military experience, having spent four years in the Senior Cadets and another eighteen months in the CMF. Following training, he embarked from Melbourne for England, on board HMT Nestor and was off-loaded at Plymouth, before embarking for France. He joined his battalion, fighting on the Western Front in early 1917. In March, he was hospitalised with 'trench foot', but then was returned to the front.  He died in action, probably at Villers Bretonneux, on 12 May 1917, one of 413 to die in that battle, with shrapnel wounds to his abdomen and right arm. He was buried at Grevillers British Cemetery, Bapaume, France, Grave 4.E.8.