BARNES, Albert James
| Service Number: | 4988 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 February 1916, 13th Reinforcements |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 26th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Chobham, Woking, Surrey, England, 27 February 1894 |
| Home Town: | Brisbane, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farm labourer |
| Died: | Lawnton, Queensland, Australia, 30 April 1965, aged 71 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Inverell Cemetery, NSW |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 1 Feb 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 4988, 25th Infantry Battalion, 13th Reinforcements | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 May 1916: | Involvement Private, 4988, 25th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Seang Choon embarkation_ship_number: A49 public_note: '' | |
| 4 May 1916: | Embarked Private, 4988, 25th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Seang Choon, Brisbane | |
| 14 Nov 1916: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 4988, 25th Infantry Battalion, Gunshot wound to the neck during an attack at Gird Trench near Flers | |
| 20 Sep 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 4988, 25th Infantry Battalion, Menin Road, Gunshot wound to the left shoulder | |
| 12 Oct 1918: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 26th Infantry Battalion | |
| 12 Mar 1919: | Honoured Distinguished Conduct Medal, Mont St Quentin / Peronne, “During the attack on the Beaurevoir Line, east of Peronne, on 3rd October, 1918, a strong post was encountered behind some very thick wire. An enemy machine gun in this post was causing a host of casualties. Private Barnes moved away to a flank, crawled through the wire, and came round the rear of the enemy post. He then rushed the post and threw several bombs into it, killing, or capturing, the crew before his platoon was through the wire. This action was carried out with great courage and coolness.” | |
| 21 Aug 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 4988, 26th Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Sue Smith
Albert James Barnes was born on 27th February 1894 at Chobham, Woking, Surrey, England, the youngest of 8 children born to his parents Henry and Rosina Barnes. His older siblings were Sarah, Ellen, Francis, George, Henry, Thomas and Lucy. Albert came to Australia in 1908 with one of sisters when he was aged 14 and they settled in Brisbane QLD where he worked as a farm labourer.
On 1st February 1916 Albert enlisted for WW1 in the Australian Imperial Force at Brisbane aged 21. He’s described as being 5ft 9ins tall with a dark complexion, hazel eyes and brown hair. His service number was 4988, his rank Private and he proceeded to the 11th Depot Brigade at Enoggera Camp. Six weeks later he transferred to the 14th Depot Battalion then on 1st April he was assigned to the 25th Infantry Battalion 13th Reinforcements which was part of the 7th Brigade 2nd Division. He embarked from Brisbane on 4th May 1916 on HMAT Seang Choon and disembarked at Egypt a month later. He had a short period of training in Egypt then embarked for England from Alexandria on 29th July on HMT Arcadian. He disembarked at Southampton on 9th August and after further training proceeded to France on 23rd September where he joined his Battalion at Steenvoorde on 2nd October. The Battalion moved to Ypres in Belgium 4 days later and relieved the 17th Battalion in the frontline near Zillebeke. In late October they moved to Gorenflos, then to Dernacourt, Mametz Wood Camp and finally to Carlton Trench Camp on 2nd November where they moved into the frontline at Switch Trench on 4th November. Just 10 days later Albert sustained a gunshot wound to the neck during an attack at Gird Trench and was admitted to the 5th Field Ambulance (5th FA). He was transferred to the 36th Casualty Clearing Station (36th CCS) at Heilly then a week later was admitted to No. 2 Convalescent Depot at Rouen. He was discharged to the Australian General Base at Etaples in late November and re-joined the Battalion at Adelaide Camp at Montauban on 23rd December…just in time for Christmas.
On 19th January 1917 Albert was admitted to the 5th FA with severe trench feet. He was transferred to the 38th CCS at Heilly then to the 11th Stationary Hospital at Rouen. He was evacuated to England on HMHS Dunluce Castle and admitted to the 1st Southern General Hospital at Birmingham on 31st January. After being discharged in mid-March he proceeded to Perham Downs Camp then 3 weeks later proceeded to No. 3 Command Depot at Hurdcott Camp in preparation for return to France. He embarked from Southampton on 10th June and re-joined his Battalion at Bapaume on 25th June. In July the Battalion moved to Coin Perdu near St Omer then in September to Winnipeg Camp near Vlamertinge, Belgium. They moved into the frontline at Westhoek and took part in the Battle of Menin Road which commenced on 20th September. That same day Albert sustained a gunshot wound to the left shoulder and was admitted to the 6th FA then to the 3rd Canadian CCS at Remy Siding before being transferred to the 57th General Hospital at Boulogne. From there he was evacuated to England on HMHS St Denis on 14th October and admitted to Middlesex Military War Hospital. He was there for a week then was transferred to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital (1st AAH) at Harefield. After convalescing he went on furlough then reported to Hurdcott Camp on 8th November. In late November he proceeded to No. 1 Command Depot at Sutton Veny then to Sand Hill Camp at Longbridge Deverill. From there he proceeded to France from Southampton on 19th December and re-joined his Battalion on 4th January 1918 at Red Lodge at Ploegsteert, Belgium.
On 12th October 1918 Albert transferred to the 26th Infantry Battalion and joined them at Bertacourt, France. Just 4 days later he was recommended for the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his actions on the 3rd October during the Battle of St Quentin while he was with the 25th Battalion. Now with the 26th Battalion Albert made his way north to Grand Fayt in late November then to Marchienne-au-Pont near Charleroi in Belgium on 20th December where he spent Christmas and New year. On 23rd February 1919 Albert was admitted with influenza to the 7th FA then to 20th CCS at Charleroi. A week later he was transferred to the 83rd General Hospital at Boulogne then was discharged a week late to the Australian General Base at Rouelles. While he was there Albert was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) on 12th March 1919 for the following action: “During the attack on the Beaurevoir Line, east of Peronne, on 3rd October, 1918, a strong post was encountered behind some very thick wire. An enemy machine gun in this post was causing a host of casualties. Private Barnes moved away to a flank, crawled through the wire, and came round the rear of the enemy post. He then rushed the post and threw several bombs into it, killing, or capturing, the crew before his platoon was through the wire. This action was carried out with great courage and coolness."
On 25th March Albert proceeded to England to No. 1 Command Depot at Weymouth before embarking from Liverpool on 15th May on HMT Ypiranga for return to Australia. He disembarked at Melbourne VIC on 5th July and entrained for Brisbane QLD. He was discharged from the service on 21st August 1919. Albert was presented with his DCM by Lieutenant General Sir Harry Chauvel at Wickham Park, Brisbane, on 11th December 1919.
Albert married Alice Undine Wilson at the Methodist Church Parsonage at Ebbw Vale, a suburb of Ipswich, on 4th November 1922. They welcomed 2 children…Alfred Maurice, known as Maurice, and Hazel Alice.
During the 1930s Albert was a dairy farmer at Pullenvale then a poultry farmer at Zillmere from 1940-1944. He then worked at a jam factory at Zillmere before working a flower and strawberry farm at Sunnybank from 1949-1954. In 1954 he moved to Aspley and worked on the gardens and grounds of Newstead House until retiring in 1960 to live at Lawnton. Albert passed away at Lawnton QLD on 30th April 1965 aged 71. He was buried at Inverell Cemetery NSW.
Albert James Barnes was awarded for service in WW1 the Distinguished Conduct Medal, British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Respectfully submitted by Sue Smith 27th February 2024....Albert's 130th birthday.
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