BARNES, George William
| Service Number: | 4137 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 9th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia, date not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Rockhampton, Rockhampton, Queensland |
| Schooling: | State School, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Died of Wounds, United Kingdom, 11 June 1918, age not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Brookwood Military Cemetery, Pirbright, Surrey, England, United Kingdom Section IV, Grave A2 Epitaph reads "In Loving Memory Of My Beloved Son. Gone But Not Forgotten" |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Gracemere Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 3 Jan 1916: | Involvement Private, 4137, 9th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Kyarra embarkation_ship_number: A55 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Jan 1916: | Embarked Private, 4137, 9th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Kyarra, Brisbane |
Help us honour George William Barnes's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”
Died on this date – 11th June…… George William Barnes was born at Rockhampton, Queensland on 7th September, 1888.
He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 30th August, 1915 as a 27 year old, single, Labourer from Rockhampton, Queensland.
Private George William Barnes, Service number 4137, embarked from Brisbane, Queensland on HMAT Kyarra (A55) on 3rd January, 1916 with the 9th Infantry Battalion, 13th Reinforcements & disembarked at Alexandria on 19th February, 1916.
On 29th March, 1916 Private Barnes embarked from Alexandria to join B.E.F. (British Expeditionary Force). He disembarked at Marseilles, France on 4th April, 1916. Private Barnes proceeded from 1st Australian Divisional Base at Etaples on 12th May, 1916 to join his Unit & was taken on strength of 9th Battalion from Reinforcements on 14th May, 1916 at Steenvercke.
Private George William Barnes was wounded in action in France on 23rd July, 1916. He was admitted to 1st Australian General Hospital at Rouen, France on 27th July, 1916 with Shrapnel wound/s to Right Hand. Private Barnes was transferred to England from Havre on 31st July, 1916 on Hospital Ship Goorka.
He was admitted to 3rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth, England on 1st August, 1916 with G.S.W. to Right Hand.
On 2nd October, 1916 Private Barnes was written up for a Crime while posted at Perham Downs, Wiltshire, England – Overstaying Leave from midnight on 1st October, 1916 to 10 pm on 2nd October, 1916. He was awarded 3 days confined to Barracks & forfeited 1 days pay.
Private George William Barnes proceeded overseas to France on 14th October, 1916 from 3rd Training Battalion in England. He was marched in to 1st A.D.B.D. (Australian Divisional Base Depot) at Etaples, France on 16th October, 1916.
He was sent to Hospital on 31st October, 1916 from 1st A.D.B.D. He was admitted to 24th General Hospital at Etaples, France on 31st October, 1916 with Mumps. Private Barnes was discharged to Base Details on 21st November, 1916 & was marched into 1st A.D.B.D. at Etaples on the same day. He was marched out from 1st A.D.B.D. on 2nd December, 1916 & rejoined 9th Battalion in France on 5th December, 1916.
On 10th April, 1917 Private Barnes reported sick & was admitted to 2nd D.R.S. (Divisional Rest Station) with P.U.O. (Pyrexia (fever) of unknown origin) then transferred to 4th Field Ambulance on the same day. Private Barnes was transferred on 10th April, 1917 to 56th Casualty Clearing Station. (Note: Casualty Form - Active Service recorded he was transferred to CCS on 15th April, 1917 then on another line recorded he was admitted to 56 CCS on 14th April, 1917). He was transferred to 11th Ambulance Train on 14th April, 1917 & admitted to 5th General Hospital at Rouen, France on 17th April, 1917. Private Barnes was transferred from Rouen on 29th April, 1917 for transfer to England then on 2nd May, 1917 he was transferred to Hospital Ship SS France at Havre.
Private Barnes was admitted to Military Hospital at Eastleigh, England on 3rd May, 1917 with P.U.O. (Pyrexia (fever) of unknown origin). He was granted furlough on 2nd July, 1917 & was to report to No. 1 Command Depot on 16th July, 1917.
He was written up for an Offence at Perham Downs – A.W.L. (Absent without Leave) from 3.30 pm on 16th July, 1917 until 4 pm on 18th July, 1917. Award – admonished by Lieutenant W. Crampton on 19th July, 1917 & forfeited 3 days’ pay.
Reinforcements were only given basic training in Australia. Training was completed in training units in England. Some of these were located in the Salisbury Plain & surrounding areas in the county of Wiltshire. Later Training & Convalescing Units were combined under the one Command Depot.
On 18th July, 1917 Private Barnes was marched in to No. 1 Command Depot at Perham Downs, Wiltshire, England & medically classified as B1A (fit for overseas training camp in a few weeks). The Hospital Admissions form recorded that Private Barnes was suffering from Myalgia – “Considerable pain in muscles legs & back.” He was dentally fit on 1st August, 1917.
Private Barnes proceeded overseas to France via Southampton on 15th August, 1917 from Overseas Training Depot. He was marched in to 1st A.D.B.D. (Australian Divisional Base Depot) at Havre, France on 16th August, 1917 then marched out from 1st A.D.B.D. on 29th August, 1917. Private Barnes rejoined his Battalion in France on 31st August, 1917.
He reported sick on 26th December, 1917 & was admitted to 1st A.D.R.S. (Australian Divisional Rest Station) with Scabies & discharged to Duty on 2nd January, 1918. Private Barnes rejoined 9th Battalion in the Field on 6th January, 1918.
On 2nd February, 1918 Private Barnes was admitted to 1st Australian Field Ambulance with Scabies. He was discharged to duty on the same day.
He was on Leave to UK from 18th March, 1918 & rejoined 9th Battalion from Leave on 4th April, 1918.
Private George William Barnes was wounded in action (2nd occasion) on 14th May, 1918. He was admitted to 3rd Australian Field Ambulance on 14th May, 1918 then transferred to Casualty Clearing Station with shrapnel wounds to Back. Private Barnes was transferred to 54th General Hospital on 15th May, 1918. He was transferred to England on 26th May, 1918 on Hospital Ship St. Andrew.
On 26th May, 1918 Private Barnes was admitted to The King George Hospital, Stamford Street, London, England with G.S.W. (gunshot wound/s) to Back & his condition was listed as dangerous. The Hospital Admissions form recorded: “Notes from France. Wounded May 13/18. Wound of back involving spine weakness of both more marked on Rt side. Loss of sensation on dorsum & soles of feet. Retention of urine. Operation – wound enlarged & explored. Fract of Laminae found & piece of spine of Vertebra which was detached was taken away. X ray – F.B. (foreign body) lying to the right just anterior to body of 3rd L.V. C.O.A. Large open septic wound. Incontinence of faeces. Retention of Urine, No power in legs feet or toes. 29 – 5 -18 Supra pubic performed. Fract of 3rd 4th Lumbar vertebra, piece of metal lying between the two bones. 6 – 6 -18 Gradually getting worse, meningeal symptoms. Delirious, copious discharge from spinal wound. 11-6-18 Died from Meningitis.”
Private George William Barnes died at 5.5 pm on 11th June, 1918 at The King George Hospital, Stamford Street, London, England from wounds received in action - G.S.W. (gunshot wound/s) to Spine & Paraplegia.
He was buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey, England where around 360 other WW1 Australian War Graves are located.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/a---b1.html
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