TOPIC:

John Barnes' group of medals whilst not at all unique in terms of combination must surely be unique in terms of the outfits he served with. From the Cape Mounted Riflemen in the Boer War to the role of Leading Fireman in the Mercantile Auxilairy Fleet, he certainly got around. Here is his story.

John Barnes

Private, Cape Mounted Riflemen – Anglo Boer War
Leading Fireman, Mercantile Fleet Auxiliary, - WWI

- Queens South Africa Medal to 3704 Pte. J. Barnes, Cape M.R. with clasps Cape Colony and South Africa 1901 & 1902
- 1914/15 Star to FMN. J. Barnes, M.F.A.
- British War Medal to FMN. J. Barnes, M.F.A.
- Victory Medal to FMN. J. Barnes, M.F.A.

John Barnes was a hard man to track down. A mystery to even his closest family from whom the medals came it took the acquisition of a certified copy of his marriage certificate to begin the arduous process of tracking down his antecedents. Notwithstanding that fact his combination of medals and where they were earned must surely rate as almost unique.



Barnes was born at 95 Portobello Road on 27 January 1881 the son of John George Barnes and his wife Alice Ellen, born Whitman. He was baptised at St. Peter’s in Bayswater five months later on 12 June 1881. His father had a chequered work history holding down quite a number of occupations during his lifetime. At the time of John’s baptism he was a Smith by trade.

The 1881 census taken a couple of months after his birth record that the family were still in Portobello Road, John Senior was now a Beer Retailer and owner of the “Portobello Gold” as the pub was known. The family was comprised of William (3), Alice (2) and John (2 months) – making up the numbers was Mr Barnes’ father, also John, who at the age of 65 was a Widower.

Ten years later, the 1891 census revealed that Barnes Senior was now a Church Verger by occupation, a far cry from being a Publican. The family had moved to 1 Stanley Terrace in Chelsea. Alice Barnes was a Laundress and the children had grown in number with 10 year old John being joined by siblings George (13), Alice (12), Charles (6) and Ernest (1). Mr Barnes’ father was still in residence at the age of 75.



Possibly stirred by the wave of patriotic fervour that was sweeping England at the time of the Boer War or by some other sense of adventure a 20 year old John Barnes took the bold step of leaving his kith and kin and venturing south to the tip of Africa where, since October 1899, the Anglo Boer War had been raging between the might of the Empire on the one hand and a ribald bunch of unruly Boers on the other.

Answering the call to arms in England he enlisted with the Cape Mounted Riflemen on 21 February 1901 and set sail for South Africa. The Cape Mounted Riflemen were especially active in the eastern part of the Cape Colony during the latter or guerrilla phase of the war and were constantly skirmishing with small parties of Boer Commandos who were infiltrating south of the Orange Free State border in search of not only much needed supplies but also to arouse sympathy among the Cape Dutch to join their cause.

The areas around Dordrecht and Richmond were a hot-bed of Boer activity and the C.M.R. had to remain on their toes and constantly vigilant if they weren’t to be caught napping. It wasn't only in defence that were used however, and they were instrumental in a number of attacks as well.

It was in this maelstrom that Barnes found himself but not without troubles of his own. On 30 January 1902 he was found guilty at a place called Erin of “Disobedience of Orders” and of “Insolence” – for these crimes he was fined 10/-. His next and last misdemeanour took place at Dordrecht on 12 May 1902 where he was “Drunk on evening stables” – drunkenness was a scourge among the men at the time although Captain Taplin gave him merely an “Admonishment”.

Barnes was transferred internally a number of times, firstly to “J” Company on 1 November 1901 and then to “E” Company on 1 January 1902, before moving to “A” Company on 1 March 1902 and, finally, to “F” Company on 1 August 1902. Hostilities ceasing on 31 May 1902 he was awarded the Queens Medal with clasps Cape Colony and South Africa 1901 & 1902 for his effort.

On the home front the Barnes family continued with their lives unabated – Barnes senior was now, according to the 1901 census, a Laundryman (Employer) and almost all his remaining family seem to have been active in the business with George William (23) a Drapers Clerk and Alice (22), the Laundry Manageress. Young Ernest (11) was a school boy.

Post-war Barnes continued with the C.M.R. being promoted to Corporal on 17 January 1903 and becoming a qualified Signaller with an allowance of 6 pence on 21 March 1905. On 20 February 1906, having completed his obligation of 5 years, Barnes took his discharge from the Riflemen at own request Time Expired. A comment on his service record provides us with insight into the man. It read as follows, “Education: Good; Sobriety: Good (the earlier incident would appear to have been forgotten); Efficiency: Good and General Character: Very Good.”

Physically he was described as being 5 feet 8 ½ inches in height with dark brown hair, a fair complexion and blue eyes.

At some stage he decided to return to his native England where, he took up residence with his mother who, with the passing of Barnes senior in 1905, was widowed. The 1911 census revealed that Mrs Barnes was made of stern stuff, successfully continuing to run her late husband’s laundry business from home premises at 1 Tavistock Road, Harlesden, North West London. John, now 31 and still unmarried, was employed as a Draper’s Clerk in a warehouse whilst younger brother Ernest was a Law Clerk. There were no fewer than four others in the house, all lodgers and all belonging to the Pratt family.

Tiring of this life John Barnes next betook himself to the Merchant Navy being employed in the capacity of a Ship’s Fireman. It is this occupation and time of life that he allowed his thoughts to wander coming to the decision that he had better find himself a bride.

Having moved to Southampton, he took up residence in the “Bold Forester” in St. Mary’s Street from where, on 25 November 1914, he married Beatrice Maud Rogers a 21 year old spinster from 47 Princes Street, Southampton. The ceremony took place at the Southampton Registry Office. Interestingly although deceased, Barnes father was mentioned and, no surprise, he was accorded yet another occupation in death, that of a Farmer.

As has been mentioned Barnes had joined the Merchant Navy but, truth be told it was as a Civilian in the Mercantile Fleet Auxiliary that he had found himself. Britain and her Empire were at war and the Admiralty commandeered a large number of merchant ships to the Navy to assist with the war effort. Sailors and crew, nevertheless, continued to retain their own identity. Quite how the M.F.A. came about is best described in this Circular Letter numbered and dated No. 9. 3487 T 1905, 3rd August 1905. It read as follows:

“My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have decided that the title “H.M.S.” shall in future be strictly confined to commissioned ships flying the white ensign and shall never be applied to fleet auxiliaries which are manned with mercantile crews, whether they are owned by the Admiralty or taken up on Transport charter.

My Lords are pleased therefore to direct that auxiliaries which belong to the Admiralty shall in future be styled “Royal Fleet Auxiliaries,” and that those which are taken up on Transport charter shall be styled “Mercantile Fleet Auxiliaries.”

The special character of any of these ships should be denoted after the name, and whenever brevity is desired the initials “R.F.A.” or “M.F.A.” for the two classes respectively should be used. Thus the “Maine” should be styled R.F.A. “Maine,” Hospital Ship, and the “Sirdar,” M.F.A. “Sirdar,” Collier Transport.

By Command of their Lordships
Ewan MacGregor”

Not much is known about Barnes service during the war or even on what ships he sailed. All we have to go on (no records were kept in respect of M.F.A. personnel) is a Merchant Navy card which tells us that Barnes was a Leading Fireman and that he was discharged on 6 November 1919, almost a year to the day after the Great War had ended. For his troubles he was awarded the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal all named to the rank of Fireman with the M.F.A.

What became of Barnes after the war is unknown. He had offspring in the form of his son John George Barnes (named after his father) who was born at Southampton on 22 September 1918.

Rory,

Great write up. Really well done.

Perhaps he was reformed man by the time of his discharge?

Best wishes
David

Splendid grouping Rory, I've not recorded a QSA-MFA combination before.

Can you clarify did he actually enlist in the UK into the CMR?

Regards
Meurig

Hi Meurig

I was going according to the copy of his CMR record I have (see below) - It states that he joined in England.



Regards

Rory

Thanks Rory, interesting, the CMR - a permanent force of the Cape recruited overseas. I wouldn't have thought they were short of recruits in SA.

Hello Meurig,

Whilst in Cape Town I copied every available book in the DD 7/60 - 65 series and there are hundreds of men who enlisted in England. I have the pages as shown by Rory for men from Reg number 1 up to and including 5260 however, the first book DD7/60 which is Reg number 1-1500 has approximately half of the pages missing, a very tatty old book indeed. DD7/62 is also in a poor condition.

Some of my photos though are better than others but it is to be excused as this was one hell of a job spanning several months and resulting in much back pain !!

Cheers
Adrian