Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Note- his full name was George Daniel Barnes as recorded in his Repatriation Pension Case File held by the NAA.

When he enlisted as George Barnes in 1899 and his details were published with the rank and file in The Brisbane Courier, 18 Nov 1899, he was recorded as Private G. Barnes, single, Indooroopilly Post Office. In the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 1st QMI, Bk 1 p. 8, it is noted he directed part of his pay to Miss E. Barnes (his sister), Indooroopilly. He served the full tour of the 1st QMI returning to Brisbane where he was discharged on 23 Jan 1901.

George Daniel Barnes (recorded as Daniel Barnes) was born on 4 Apr 1875 in the suburb of Kenmore, Brisbane, a son to John Barnes and Mary Ann Barnes (nee Lynch). He married widow Bridget Maria Moore (nee Gorey) on 8 Jan 1902 at Gympie and they would have 8 children in addition to Bridget's first child from her first marriage.

Bridget had taken over as licensee of the Cricketers' Arms Hotel, One Mile, from her first husband following his passing, and George would take up running the hotel when they married. When George passed in 1942 an obituary was published in various newspapers as transcribed below.

Gympie: Obituary- The Courier Mail, 24 Mar 1942, p. 5.

Mr. George Daniel Barnes, 68, father of Mr. J. F. Barnes, M.L.A., died in Gympie Hospital last Saturday night. He was born at Kenmore, Indooroopilly, and in his early years engaged in the timber trade. He was an enthusiast in the mounted militia service, and in 1898 was selected as one of five to represent Queensland at the Queen's Jubilee in London. He was a fine horseman, and at Bisley won the British Empire tentpegging championship. He also obtained third prize in the bareback wrestling championship. After his return to Australia he came to Gympie with Mr. H. F. Walker now M.L.A. for Cooroora, and engaged in mining. He enlisted with the mounted infantry under the late Colonel Patterson and fought in the South African War, returning as a staff sergeant. Later he married, and for eight years conducted the Cricketers' Arms Hotel at One-mile. He afterwards became manager of the Oriental and South Glanmire and Monkland mines. Subsequently he went to a mining field on an island in the Coral Sea, and after a few years returned to Gympie and engaged in the timber trade. For the last ten years he had been mining in the Jimna and other areas. He is survived by his wife, five sons, and two daughters.

(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 453; National Archives Australia- Boer War Dossier; National Archives Australia- Repatriation Pension Case File; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 1st QMI, Bk 1 p. 8).