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Robert Barnes was born on 19th September 1925 at Black Forest in Adelaide. The youngest son of Frederick Charles Barnes, a brass moulder and union representative, and Gladys Myrtle, nee Williams. His elder brother, Frederick Lynn Barnes, became a school headmaster.  Barnes was educated at Black Forest primary school and Unley High School. He studied medicine at the University of Adelaide graduating in 1948.  During his university years, he joined the CMF and served in the Adelaide University Regiment. He married Pamela Margaret Cant, from Adelaide, in 1948, and they were to have four children; Bridget, Simon, Sarah and Amanda. He completed his resident year in 1949 at the RAH and the ACH.

Barnes joined the regular Army on completion of his resident year and was posted to BCOF in Japan on 25th June 1950. This was on the same day as his friend and future practice partner, Wolfram Immanuel Seith.  He was then posted to Korea in 1951 where he served with distinction. He was appointed a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for his Services to the Commonwealth Military Forces on 14th October 1952.  His citation states that;

Captain R Barnes has been Regimental Medical Officer of 3 BN Royal Australian Regiment since 11th June 1951.  During this period his extreme conscientiousness, ability and practical approach to medical problems with the unit have won the respect and trust of all ranks. During the periods of heavy fighting NORTH of the INJIN in October and November, although subject to considerable personal danger, CAPTAIN BARNES at all times was cool, resourceful and inspired confidence in his staff and particularly in his wounded patients, who showed by their manner their complete faith in him.  When individual cases of badly wounded occurred within forward companies and comparative quiet elsewhere in the Battalion permitted, CAPTAIN BARNES went forward often through shelling and mortaring, to give immediate aid to the wounded. CAPTAIN BARNES’ work has be exemplary throughout his service with this unit and he is held in the highest esteem by both officers and men.

Following his service in Korea he remained in the Army and was posted to Papua New Guinea (PNG), where he served in Biak, Western New Guinea. He was issued the; the Australian Active Service Medal 1945-1975 with Clasp Korea and the Korea Medal.

Before returning to Australia Barnes went to London to study for two diplomas in Industrial Health.  He then returned to Australia and took up a practice with Wolfram Seith in Kadina, South Australia for seven years. He was invited by the government to lead the Australian Military Contingent in the Coronation Parade for Queen Elizabeth 11 in London in 1953. However he was unable to do so due to family and new practice commitments. He reflects today on the great honour it was to be asked to lead the contingent. There was not a CMF unit in Kadina so, much to the dismay of his senior officers, he decided to resign from the Army. Barnes then returned to PNG and practiced medicine there for the next seven years. During this time he gave medical care to the local people in areas including; Saino, Port Moresby, Kundiawa, Goroka and Weewak. He often flew inland to many small villages, where many of the inhabitants had never previously been visited by European people.

He returned to Australia to study for a Diploma in Public Health at Sydney University, and a five year appointment to lecture in industrial diseases of the chest specialising in asbestosis and malignant diseases. He then moved around several towns in NSW working for the Health Commission, eventually returning to Sydney for an appointment with the Dust Diseases Board as Chief Medical Officer. Barnes’ wife Pamela died in 1995. He retired aged seventy five, in 2001, and he remarried in the same year, on 1st December, to Marilyn, a widow with five children. They have enjoyed extensive travel to Europe and Asia and recently caravanning around Australia.  Robert Barnes continues to live in Corlette, Port Stephens, NSW with his wife Marilyn.

Source

Blood, Sweat and Fears II: Medical Practitioners of South Australia on Active Service After World War 2 to Vietnam 1945-1975.

Summers, Swain, Jelly, Verco. Open Book Howden, Adelaide 2016

Uploaded by Annette Summers AO RFD