Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Percy Ernest Barnier (Reg. #267) enlisted in the AIF on the 17th April 1915 at Lismore. He registered himself as being 27yrs and 11mths of age, was working as a ‘Labourer’, and gave his address as Powell Street, Grafton. He was 5’ 9” tall, 12stone, 0lb (76kg), dark eyes, dark complexion with black hair, was a C of E, and his next of kin was listed as Thomas Barnier (father). He was taken in at Enoggera and initially assigned to ‘B’ Company, 26th Battalion, AIF. 

The 26th Battalion was raised at Enoggera, Queensland, in April 1915 from recruits enlisted in Queensland and Tasmania, and formed part of the 7th Brigade. Descended from the Hann pioneers of Grafton, Percy Barnier embarked on 25th May 1915 from Brisbane aboard ‘HMAT Ascanius’ and after more training in Egypt, landed at Anzac Cove on 12th September. At Gallipoli, the 26th Bn. played a purely defensive role and at various times was responsible for the defence of Courtney’s and Steele’s Posts, and Russell’s Top. It was withdrawn from the peninsula on the 12th December 1915. However, so cold was it on the Gallipoli Peninsula that Percy was withdrawn and admitted to the Hospital Ship “Oxfordshire’ for frostbite on the 5th December 1915, and transferred to the No.2 Aust Gen. Hospital at Mena House in Cairo, then to Helouan Convalescent Depot, from where he was discharged on the 25th January 1916.

He was then transferred to the 2nd Pioneer Battalion, an Australian infantry and light engineer unit. The 2nd Pioneers were established on 10 March 1916, at Tel-el-Kebir in Egypt, and were subsequently assigned to the 2nd Division. The battalion was formed in the aftermath of the failed Gallipoli campaign when the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) was expanded as part of plans to transfer it from the Middle East to Europe for service in the trenches along the Western Front. This expansion saw several new infantry divisions raised in Egypt and Australia, as well as specialist support units such as machine gun companies, engineer companies, artillery batteries and pioneer battalions, which were needed to meet the conditions prevalent on the Western Front. Its first commanding officer was Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Annand, a Royal Australian Engineers officer.

Trained as infantrymen, they were also tasked with some engineer functions, with a large number of personnel possessing trade qualifications from civilian life. As such, they were designated as pioneer units. The pioneer concept had existed within the British Indian Army before the war, but had not initially been adopted in other British Empire forces. In early 1916, the Australian Army was reorganised ahead of its transfer to the Western Front in Europe. A total of five pioneer battalions were raised by the AIF at this time, with one being assigned to each of the five infantry divisions that the Australians deployed to the battlefield in France and Belgium. Tasked with digging trenches, labouring, constructing strong points and light railways, and undertaking battlefield clearance, the troops assigned to the pioneers required construction and engineering experience in addition to basic soldiering skills. Formed from volunteers drawn from the state of Victoria, the battalion consisted of four companies, under a headquarters company. The battalion subsequently served on the Western Front from mid-1916 until the end of the war. To identify the battalion’s personnel, they were issued with a purple and white Unit Colour Patch. The colours were in common with other Australian pioneer battalions, while the diamond shape denoted that the unit was part of the 2nd Division.

After disembarking at Marseilles on the 26th March 1916, The 2nd Pioneer Battalion fought in most of the major battles that the AIF participated in between mid-1916 and the end of the war in November 1918. The battalion’s first major action was fought around the Pozieres heights in late July 1916, during which it suffered over 200 casualties during a two-week period. Despite the heavy losses at Pozieres, the pioneers subsequently took part in the Battle of Mouquet Farm in July and August 1916. The following year, after the Germans withdrew to the Hindenburg Line, and the pioneers were committed to a series of actions aimed at attacking these defences as part of Allied efforts to follow up the Germans. This saw them take part in the fighting during the Second Battle of Bullecourt in May, and the Third Battle of Ypres later in the year. In early 1918, they helped to defend against the Spring Offensive in early 1918. In August 1918, the 2nd Pioneers supported the Allied advance during the Hundred Days Offensive, which ultimately brought about an end to the war. Their final action came around Montbrehain amidst the Battle of St. Quentin Canal in early October 1918, during which the pioneers were used primarily as infantry during the assault on the village due to heavy losses amongst 2nd Division’s infantry battalions earlier in the year. Losses in this final attack amounted to 19 killed and 87 wounded. Shortly afterwards the Australian Corps was withdrawn from the line for rest at the behest of the Australian prime minister, Billy Hughes, and the battalion saw no further action before the armistice in November. As personnel were repatriated to Australia in drafts as part of the gradual demobilisation of the AIF, the battalion’s strength dwindled until finally it was disbanded on 18 May 1919 while in the Charleroi area of Belgium.

Percy Ernest Barnier was promoted to Lance Corporal (4th April 1916), Corporal (1st May 1916), and Sgt in the Field (7th August 1916), before being advanced to Company Quarter Master Sgt on the 1st December 1917. He was returned to Australia aboard ‘HT Warwickshire’, which arrived on the 28th May 1919, and was discharged on the 30th July 1919. He later received the 1914/15 Star (#7477), the British War Medal (#11755) and the Victory Medal (#11566).