Name
Henry Barnes
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/07/1916
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Corporal
20660
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Searched but not found
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 2 C.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Harpenden Town Memorial, Church of St Nicholas Memorial, Harpenden, Not on the Kinsbourne Green memorial
Pre War
Henry was born in 1892 in Kinsbourne Green near Harpenden the second son to Benjamin Barnes, labourer, and Matilda (nee Arbourn).
In the 1911 Census he is recorded at the Militia Barracks, Hertford. This indicates that he was a member of the Territorial Force. He worked for Steabbens, butcher, on Church Green.
Wartime Service
Henry enlisted in the Bedfordshire Regiment as Private 20660. He had been promoted to Acting Corporal. Henry was attached to 9th Battalion Essex Regiment.
On night of 2/3 July 1916 they were part of an attack at Ovilliers on the Somme. Some Units had successes but the Essex came under heavy shellfire before reaching their own front line. Henry was reported as Missing and later posted as killed in this action. His remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.
Biography
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Barnes, of Kinsbourn Green, Luton, Beds.
An undated newspaper article (also no record of which newspaper) describes how Mr. and Mrs. Barnes have four sons who have all joined up:
- "Corporal Henry Barnes, Beds. Regt. enlisted May 19th, reported missing July 3rd, 1916, and subsequently officially reported killed
- Pte. Eric Barnes, enlisted April, 1918, in the Beds. Regt. at the age of 15, and was wounded at the Dardanelles in August, 1915, and sent to England and discharged, being under military age. He enlisted again in February, this year, and was severely wounded by a shell in the big offensive on March 23rd, and is now in hospital in this country
- Pte. B. Barnes (married), enlisted September, 1914, went to the Dardanelles with the Hants Regt., and was invalided home in January, 1916. In November, 1916, he went to France and came home on his first leave in March, this year
- Pte. Arthur Barnes (married), Beds. Regt. enlisted in August, 1914,; he is unfit for foreign service, but is continuing his work as a soldier in this country"
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £5 and arrears of £8 1s 10d paid to mother.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper, Derry Warners
Jonty Wild, Mary Skinner, Harpenden & District Local History Society (www.harpenden-history.org.uk)
