BARNES Barney

Family

Barney Barnes was born in Auckland, New Zealand in 1873. He arrived in Sydney on 12 August 1910 as a steerage passenger aboard the "Wimmera" from Auckland.

Military context

The 31st Battalion was raised as part of the 8th Brigade at Enoggera in August 1915. Some of the battalion's companies, however, were also raised at Broadmeadows Camp in Victoria. In early October, these two elements were united at Broadmeadows, and the battalion sailed from Melbourne the following month.

The 8th Brigade joined the newly raised 5th Australian Division in Egypt, and proceeded to France, destined for the Western Front, in June 1916. The 31st fought its first major battle at Fromelles, having entered the front-line trenches only three days earlier. It was a disastrous introduction to battle because the 31st suffered 572 casualties, over half its strength. Although it still spent periods in the front line, the 31st played no major offensive role for the rest of 1916. By early 1917, Private Barney Barnes' war was effectively over.

When the German Army withdrew to the Hindenburg Line in early 1917 and the British front advanced in their wake, the 31st Battalion participated in follow-up operations but missed the heavy fighting to breach the Line at Bullecourt because the 8th Brigade was deployed to protect the Division's flank. The only large battle in 1917 involving the 31st in a major role was Polygon Wood, fought in the Ypres sector of Belgium on 26 September.

With the 5th Division kept largely in reserve, the 31st Battalion had a relatively quiet time until the battle of Amiens on 8 August 1918. Its last major action was in September when the 5th and 2nd Australian Divisions attacked the Hindenburg Line along the length of the 6 kilometre St Quentin Canal tunnel which was a major obstacle in the German defensive scheme.

The 31st Battalion was resting and retraining out of the line when Armistice was declared. It disbanded in France on 21 March 1919.

Enlistment

Barney Barnes enlisted at Broadmeadows, Victoria on 14 February 1915. At enlistment, he was a 'cook' of 5 feet 7 ½ inches in height, 158 pounds in weight, of fresh complexion, with grey eyes and brown hair. His religion was Roman Catholic and he offered his niece Miss Elizabeth Barnes of Burton Street, Darlinghurst in Sydney as his next of kin. He was allocated to B Company, 31st Battalion. He was 42 years old. His Service Number was 472. His medical was undertaken and the oath of allegiance administered at Broadmeadows on 12 October 1915.

Military Service

He embarked at Melbourne on HMAT A62 "Wandilla" on 9 November 1915 (a fellow serviceman with the 31st was Gus Thaler) and disembarked at Suez. Until its despatch to the Western Front, the 31st was involved in protecting the Suez Canal against attack by the Turks.

On 16 June 1916, Private Barnes embarked at Alexandria on HMAT A20 "Honorata" to join the British Expeditionary Force in France and disembarked at Marseilles on 23 June. The Battle at Fromelles was fought on 19 July.

On 28 November 1916, he proceeded on leave to England. He returned to his unit in France on 13 December.

On 2 January 1917, he reported sick with boils on his legs. He was in the care of the 14th Australian Field Ambulance.

On 14 February, suffering from bronchitis, Private Barnes embarked at Le Havre aboard the Hospital Ship "St. George" for England. Two days later he was admitted to the Middlesex War Hospital at Napsbury. On 2 April 1917, he transferred to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford. On 11 April, he was granted two weeks of furlough.

On 26 April, he was discharged from Dartford to the No.2 Command Depot at Weymouth. Medical opinion was that his general health condition and age would not permit his return to active service in the field, and he should be repatriated on the first available passage.

On 23 May 1917, Private Barnes left Plymouth on HMAT A33 "Ayrshire" to return to Australia. He was of advanced age and suffering from chronic bronchitis and arterio sclerosis. The vessel arrived at Melbourne on 17 July and Private Barnes proceeded by rail to Brisbane. He was discharged at Brisbane on 22 August 1917.

He was issued the 1914/14 Star, and the British War and Victory Medals.

After the War

Barney Barnes' association with the Sunshine Coast apparently began after the war when he was farming in the Soldiers' Settlement at Beerburrum. He was there for the 1919 Electoral Roll but by 1925 was farming at Twin View, Elimbah.

There is no evidence he ever married.

He died on 13 July 1934. He was buried next day at Toowong Cemetery.

• Egypt
• Western Front

Australian War Memorial
National Australia Archives
Ancestry.com