Name
John Barnes
21/03/1888
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/04/1917
29
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
4/5898
Bedfordshire Regiment
4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 5.
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no known grave. He is commemorated on the Arras memorial in France to the missing.
UK & Other Memorials
London Colney Village Memorial, London Colney Roll of Honour, Not on the St Albans memorials
Pre War
John BARNES was born in Shenley/London Colney, (depending on the document) Hertfordshire, on 21st March 1888, son of Charles Barnes a Labourer and Charlotte Barnes (nee Potter). The youngest of their twelve children.
His parents were married on 18th September 1870, in the Parish Church, London Coney, Herts.
John was Baptised on 5th August 1888 with his sister Christine, in the Parish of Colney-St Peter, Herts.
His father Charles Barnes died on 25th June 1888, aged 39, he was buried on 27th June 1888.
1891 Census records John aged 3, living with his widowed mother, four brothers, two sister, Agnes (7) and Christine (4) in Lowbell Lane, London Colney, Herts.
His mother Charlotte remarried on 30th May 1896, in Shenley, Herts, to widower Samuel Emmanuel Lines.
1901 Census records John aged 13, living with his mother, stepfather Samuel Lines, brother Albert (16), and half-brother Edward Lines (14), at Lowbell Lane, London Colney, Herts. Samuel’s Granddaughter Ada Atkins (6) is staying with the family.
1911 Census records John (23), employed as a General Labourer, living with his mother, stepfather Samuel Lines, and brother Albert (26), at “Avonmore” Seaton Road, London Colney, Herts.
Wartime Service
John enlisted at Hatfield, posted to the Bedfordshire Regiment, with the service number 4/5898. On completion of his training John was sent to the Western Front arriving on 19th October 1914, serving with the 2nd Battalion, later transferred to the 4th Battalion.
John was Killed in Action on 23rd April 1917, aged 29, at the Battle of Arras (Battle of Arras 9th April -16th May 1917), he has no known grave, he is commemorated on the Arras Memorial to the missing. Bay 5.
Additional Information
His mother Charlotte was awarded a dependents pension of 7/9 a week from 21st January 1918.
His effects of £6-05s-05, pay owing went to his mother Charlotte. His war gratuity of £12-10s-00d, was split £10-18s-09d to his mother and £1-11s-03d to his sister Agnes.
His elder brother Private G/170 George Edward Barnes of the Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) was Killed in Action at Gallipoli, he has no known grave, he is commemorated on the Helles Memorial in Turkey to the missing. Panel 38 to 42 or 328.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Gareth Hughes, Jonty Wild
