Percy George Barnes
Surname: Barnes
Other names: Percy George
Locations in this story: Fontmell Magna, DorsetArras, FranceDuisans British Cemetery, Etrun, FranceWest Street, Fontmell Magna, DorsetFranceGillingham, DorsetTwyford, Dorset
Story: Percy George Barnes was born in 1892 in Twyford, Dorset. He was the son of George Joseph Barnes, (known a Joseph), an Estate Labourer, and Emily Ann Barnes (née Tuffin). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a Barman and living at 54 West Street, Fontmell Magna.
He enlisted in Gillingham, Dorset, on 8th September 1914. He joined the 6th Service Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 10851) and was posted to the home depot where he rose rapidly from Private to Sergeant in the space of a few months. On the 12th February, 1917, he transferred to the Labour Corps (Service No. 54595) and was posted to France on 8th March, 1917, where he eventually joined the 169th Company of the Labour Corps with yet another Service No. 100803. His death on 31st July 1917 was caused by an accident which happened a few days before, on the 27th July 1917, when he was thrown off his cycle by a runaway horse and received injuries from which he did not recover. It was later stated at the inquiry that Sergeant Barnes was in no way to blame for the accident. He was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. He died at the 19th Casualty Clearing Station in Arras on 31st July 1917 and was buried at Duisans British War Cemetery, Etrun, France (grave id. V.A.52). He is remembered on the Fontmell Magna War Memorial, Shaftesbury.
Further reading:
"Fontmell Magna and the First World War", compiled by Chris Bellers, Fontmell Magna Village Archive Society, 2014.
He enlisted in Gillingham, Dorset, on 8th September 1914. He joined the 6th Service Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 10851) and was posted to the home depot where he rose rapidly from Private to Sergeant in the space of a few months. On the 12th February, 1917, he transferred to the Labour Corps (Service No. 54595) and was posted to France on 8th March, 1917, where he eventually joined the 169th Company of the Labour Corps with yet another Service No. 100803. His death on 31st July 1917 was caused by an accident which happened a few days before, on the 27th July 1917, when he was thrown off his cycle by a runaway horse and received injuries from which he did not recover. It was later stated at the inquiry that Sergeant Barnes was in no way to blame for the accident. He was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. He died at the 19th Casualty Clearing Station in Arras on 31st July 1917 and was buried at Duisans British War Cemetery, Etrun, France (grave id. V.A.52). He is remembered on the Fontmell Magna War Memorial, Shaftesbury.
Further reading:
"Fontmell Magna and the First World War", compiled by Chris Bellers, Fontmell Magna Village Archive Society, 2014.
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