BARNES, Roy Walter
| Service Number: | 12697 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 4 February 1916, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 10th Field Ambulance |
| Born: | Wayville, South Australia, 22 February 1897 |
| Home Town: | Wayville, Unley, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Mechanical Engineer |
| Died: | Natural causes, Minlaton, South Australia, 4 January 1970, aged 72 years |
| Cemetery: |
Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia Cremation Only |
| Memorials: | Goodwood Public School WW1 Roll of Honor, Henley Fulham Uniting Church Roll of Honour, Unley Town Hall WW1 Honour Board, Unley Wayville Honor Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 4 Feb 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 12697, Adelaide, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 31 May 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 12697, 11th Field Ambulance, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '23' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Suevic embarkation_ship_number: A29 public_note: '' | |
| 31 May 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 12697, 11th Field Ambulance, HMAT Suevic, Adelaide | |
| 21 Sep 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant, 12697, 10th Field Ambulance |
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Son of Henry BARNES and Alma Roberta nee CARLIER
Biography contributed by Celeste ROSSI
Roy Walter Barnes was born on 22 February 1897 in Adelaide, South Australia. He grew up in Wayville, Unley, and was a Methodist by religion. Roy was a young man with a fresh complexion, brown eyes, and brown hair. Roy was single throughout his military service. His next of kin was his mother, Mrs. Alma Roberta Barnes, who resided at 72 Rose Terrace, Wayville, South Australia. This information was crucial for military records and for any necessary communications during his service. He stood at 5' 7", which was slightly above average during World War I, where the average height of soldiers was around 5' 6". Therefore, Roy would have been considered tall for his time.
Before enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force, Roy worked as a mechanical engineer and motor driver. He served an apprenticeship under T. J. Bromley in Adelaide, which helped him gain valuable skills in his trade. His technical expertise and mechanical aptitude made him well-suited for the roles he would later undertake in the military.
Roy enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 4 February 1916, at the age of 19. He was assigned the service number 12697 and joined the 11th Field Ambulance unit. During his enlistment, Roy was described as having no distinctive marks, which was noted during his medical examination.
Roy underwent a thorough medical examination and was found fit for active service. The examining medical officer, E. Johnson, confirmed that Roy did not have any serious health conditions that would prevent him from serving as a soldier. He was free from conditions such as scrofula, tuberculosis, syphilis, and other impairments. His heart and lungs were healthy, and he had the free use of his joints and limbs. Roy declared that he was not subject to fits of any description, further affirming his fitness for military duties.
After the war ended, Roy returned to Australia on 23 June 1919. He disembarked in Australia on 7 August 1919 and was officially discharged from military service 21st September 1919. His discharge was due to the end of hostilities, marking the conclusion of his active duty.
Roy Walter Barnes passed away on 4 January 1970 at the age of 72 due to natural causes. He was laid to rest at Centennial Park Cemetery in South Australia.
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