Name
George Edward Barnes
29/11/1881
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
28/06/1915
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
G/170
Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HELLES MEMORIAL
Panel 38 to 42 or 328.
Turkey (including Gallipoli)
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
London Colney Village Memorial, London Colney Roll of Honour
Pre War
George Edward BARNES was born in Shenley, Hertfordshire, on 29th November 1881, son of Charles Barnes, an Agricultural labourer and Charlotte Barnes (nee Potter). One of their twelve children.
His parents married on 18th September 1870, in the Parish Church, London Colney, Herts.
George was Baptised on 5th March 1881, in the Parish of Colney-St Peters, Herts.
His father Charles Barnes died on 25th June 1888, aged 39, he was buried on 27th June 1888.
1891 Census records George aged 9, living with his widowed mother, four brothers, two sisters, Agnes (7) and Christine (4) in Lobell Lane, Shenley, Herts.
His mother Charlotte remarried on 30th May 1896, in Shenley, Herts, to Samuel Emmanuel Lines, 1901 Census records Charlotte, Samuel and the family living in Low bell Lane, London Colney, Herts. No 1901 Census for George was found.
George married Edith Jane Pumfleet, of Paddington, Middx, daughter of Benjamin and Eliza Pumfleet, in 1909, they went on to have one son Charles Benjamin Barnes born in 1910.
1911 census records George (29) married to Edith they have one son Charles aged 1, living at Flat 5, “Normanhurst” Grosvenor Road East, St Albans, Herts.
Wartime Service
George enlisted in the Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment), issued with the service number G/170 and posted to the 2nd Battalion.
On completion of his training he was sent to Gallipoli, leaving Avonmouth they sailed via Malta, Alexandria then to Mudros. He landed at Gallipoli on 6th June 1915. The Battalion was involved in heavy fighting from the start and just 19 days after his arrival he was killed in action, aged 34. He has no known grave; he is commemorated on the Helles Memorial in Turkey to the missing. Panel 38 to 42 or 328.
Additional Information
Edith was awarded a widow’s pension of 17/6 a week from 13th March 1916, increased to 20/- (£1) a week from 23rd May 1916.
His effects of 6/4, pay owing and his war gratuity of £3, went to his widow Edith.
1921 Census records Edith and son Charles living at 4 Bannett Homestead, Golders Green, Middx. Edith’s sister Ellen Pumfleet is living with them.
His youngest brother Private 4/5898 John Barnes of the 4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment was Killed in Action on 23rd April 1917. He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial in France to the missing. Bay 5.
Please note that the photograph is the George Barnes from London Colney. The soldier identified here is the nearest fit to the known information, namely name regiment and year of death, however there we require more information to be certain as the rank appears to be contradictory.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
