BARNES, Thomas Kiffen
| Service Number: | 3122 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 31 August 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 51st Infantry Battalion (WW1) |
| Born: | Weetulta, Yorke Peninsula - South Australia, Australia, 21 December 1883 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Glenside, South Australia, 19 May 1971, aged 87 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Currency Creek Cemetery, S.A. Row 25, Site 747 |
| Memorials: | Bassendean War Memorial, Guildford and District Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 31 Aug 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, 3122, 51st Infantry Battalion (WW1) | |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Dec 1916: | Involvement Private, 3122, 51st Infantry Battalion (WW1), --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Berrima embarkation_ship_number: A35 public_note: '' | |
| 23 Dec 1916: | Embarked Private, 3122, 51st Infantry Battalion (WW1), HMAT Berrima, Fremantle | |
| 2 Aug 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, 3122, 51st Infantry Battalion (WW1) |
Help us honour Thomas Kiffen Barnes's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Paul Lemar
Thomas Kiffen BARNES was born premature at Weetulta, near Moonta on 21.12.1883 to Thomas BARNES (1862-17.11.1941) and Caroline ADAMS (30.12.1859-24.12.1935).
His parents were married at the Residence of Mr Sidney MALIN, Esq, Banksia House, Woodville, SA on 24.04.1883.
Mr Sidney MALIN had married Caroline’s eldest sister; Mary Masterman ADAMS on 15.07.1875.
Thomas’s father was the son of Thomas BARNES & Mary STANDERWICK and was born on 25.02.1862 in Magill, SA.
His mother was the daughter of John Everest ADAMS & Caroline Elizabeth EVANS and was born on the 30th of December 1859 in Adelaide.
Thomas was the eldest child born into the family of 7 children. 4 boys and 3 girls.
By 1906 the family had moved to Perth Road, West Guildford, WA and his father was a gardener and Thomas became a labourer.
Thomas married his first cousin; Muriel Blanche ADAMS on the 21st of February 1914 in the Baptist Church, Museum St, Perth, WA. Muriel was the daughter of William Masterman ADAMS & Blanche STANDERWICK and was born on the 23rd of February 1879 in Wright St, Adelaide. Her father had been adopted by the BARNES family in Weetulta as both his parents had died when he was young.
Her mother died from Tuberculosis when she was only 6 months old on the 1st of August 1879 in Magill.
Her father moved back to Weetulta for a time to look after Muriel and to find his feet again after the tragic event. He had been apprenticed at one time to a cabinet-maker, so when he was not helping on the farm, he occupied himself in his spare time by making a good solid swing cot for Muriel.
Muriel’s aunty Gertrude helped to raise her and it was not long before her father married Mary Gertrude BARNES on the 2nd of June 1880 in Pt Adelaide.
Mary was the daughter of Thomas BARNES & Mary STANDERWICK and was actually Thomas Kiffen BARNES’s aunty.
At the age of 32 Thomas Kiffen BARNES enlisted into the AIF on the 31st of August 1916 in Perth and was allotted the service number 3122.
He listed his wife; Maude Blanche, of Hamilton St, West Guildford, Perth, WA as his next of kin.
He was allocated to the 51st Battalion, 8th Reinforcement on the 18th of September 1916 and trained at Black Boy Camp.
Thomas embarked from Fremantle, WA, on board the HMAT A35 Berrima on the 23rd of December 1916, disembarking in Devonport, England on the 16th of February 1917 and later proceeded to France.
Thomas embarked for Australia on the 21st of June 1919, disembarking on the 2nd of August
He was discharged on the 10th of September.
By 1921 the BARNES family were living in Paris Creek, SA and Thomas was a labourer.
In 1922 they purchased 2 house blocks in Sturt Street, Elliot Farm (Pt Elliot) and 2 house block corner of Sturt St & Henry Street.
Muriel was the secretary of the New Paris Creek School committee and on the 22nd of April 1922 the school was officially opened and little Jean attended the school.
In September 1923 Thomas was driving home from work in a two wheeled dog-cart, when he encountered a protruding stump and completely overturned the vehicle. He was thrown heavily to the ground and was found suffering from shock and 2 bones in his forearm were shattered.
In September 1924 they moved to Tottenham Court Road, Pt Elliot. The Paris Creek School committee presented Muriel with a lovely manicure set in their appreciation and as a token of remembrance.
Thomas became involved in the Pt Elliot Soldiers Memorial Gardens Association and in 1932 carried on the gardens work with general improvements to the Foreshore, Soldiers Gardens including Continental Park and the Soldiers Monument Park.
In 1943 their daughter Jean married returned WW1 veteran, Sydney Ernest Victor BOWLEY in Pt Elliot.
On the 19th of October 1944 Thomas & Muriel finally became grandparents to a little granddaughter.
Thomas died on the 19th of May 1971 and was buried in the Currency Creek Cemetery.
Military
At the age of 32 Thomas Kiffen BARNES enlisted into the AIF on the 31st of August 1916 in Perth and was allotted the service number 3122.
He listed his wife; Maude Blanche, of Hamilton St, West Guildford, Perth, WA as his next of kin.
He was allocated to the 51st Battalion, 8th Reinforcement on the 18th of September 1916 and trained at Black Boy Camp.
Thomas embarked from Fremantle, WA, on board the HMAT A35 Berrima on the 23rd of December 1916, disembarking in Devonport, England on the 16th of February 1917.
He underwent further training at the 15th Training Battalion in Hurdcott and the 13th Training Battalion in Codford and while at Codford he suffered from Mumps and spent 15 days in hospital.
Thomas proceeded to France on the 2nd of June 1917 and taken on strength with the 51st Battalion 2 weeks later at Messines Ridge.
By August they had moved to the Kemmel & Wulverghem sectors, near Ypres and in late August Thomas suffered from Pyrexia (PUO) and was hospitalised for 4 weeks.
After his discharge from hospital he was transferred to the 4th Australian Divisional Base Depot in Harfleur, near Le Havre until he rejoined his Battalion on the 26th of November at Dargnies, in the Somme valley.
They spent all of December and Christmas Day here training.
New Years Day 1918 was very cold & windy and the Battalion played a football match between the officers and the other ranks.
By late January they had moved to Ridgewood Camp and on the 9th of February were back in the front line for another 6 weeks before moving out to Locre.
By the 28th of March they were back in the front line for the first battle of Dernancourt and then to Villes-Brettoneaux.
On the 24th of April 1918 (ANZAC Eve) Thomas suffered a Gun Shot Wound to his left buttock at Villes-Brettoneaux and was admitted to the 1st Southern General Hospital and the Kings Heath Military Hospital in Birmingham and spent 2 months recovering.
He rejoined his battalion in France on the 13th of July 1918 in Hamelet.
When the Allies launched their own offensive in early August, the 51st Battalion was among the units involved and played an active role until the middle of that month, before moving to duties in the rear area. The battalion was ordered forward again in early September, in preparation for its last major operation of the war. On the 18th of September they provided part of the 4th Division's reserve for the attack on the Hindenburg "outpost line". Not long after the Armistice on the 11th of November 1918, drafts of men began returning to Australia for discharge.
Thomas embarked for Australia on the 21st of June 1919, disembarking on the 2nd of August
He was discharged on the 10th of September.
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