In Vadencourt British Cemetery, Maissemy, France is the Commonwealth War Grave of 50652 Private William Barnett serving with the 1st Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment who died 19/10/1918.
Eoin Gallacher has submitted the following:-
William Barnett was born in 1894 to Annie Barnett, at Morpeth, Northumberland, being baptised on the 5th April 1894. On the 1901 census, William aged 7, was living with his mother, Grandmother and great uncle, Robert at Bilton’s Court, Morpeth.
It appears he was raised as his grandmother, Margaret’s son, as on the 1911 census William is listed as her son, aged 17, working as a cart man at a local Brewery. His grandmother was aged 56 and, once again residing at Bilton’s Court, Morpeth.
At the time of enlistment, he was residing at 8 Office Row, Barrington, where he was working underground as a miner at Bomarsund “F” Pit.
William met and went on to marry Hannah Ford, of Guide Post, on the 23rd January 1915, at St. Paul’s Parish Church, Scotland Gate, Choppington.
William volunteered on the 12th November 1914 at Newcastle, joining the Remounts of the Army Service Corps and was allotted the service number R/TS/4629 and rank of Strapper. Since William was recruited specifically for the Remounts, this tells us he had at least some experience with the training and care of horses, perhaps he worked with ponies down the pit?
On the 19th July 1915, William was sent to France, working as a horse keeper; his son, William Jr was born on the 25th July 1915.
Another Barrington man, William B. Thompson (R/TS/4620), was sent to France with the Remounts in August 1915, his son Henry D. Thompson was killed in July 1916.
On the 25th May 1916, William was sent home, where he reserved in Britain; during this period he served a brief stint in hospital. Though on the 24th June 1918, he was sent back to France, arriving on the 25th. Not long after arrival, William was transferred to the Northamptonshire Regiment, receiving the service number 50652 and rank of Private, eventually serving in the 1st Battalion.
On the 17th October 1917 at 5:20am an attack on the German lines, to the North of Bohain commenced, William’s unit advanced forward behind a creeping barrage; the attack seemed to be a success, casualties numbered 15 killed. It was in the attack that William was wounded, he was sent to the 5th Casualty Clearing Station, where he died of his wounds, received in action on the 19th October 1918, aged 24.
Private W Barnett was buried at Vadencourt British Cemetery, France; another man of his unit, George Thresher died of wounds on the same day and was buried in the same cemetery.
William left a wife, Hannah and two sons, William aged 3 and Archibald still in the womb. His address at this point in time was 3 Cross Road, Guide Post; Hannah, his wife, went on to marry Thomas Latimer in mid-1926.
William’s brother-in-law, Archibald Ford, of Guide Post, was also killed during the war..
William Barnett is remembered at Bedlington on B15.06 and at Choppington on C36.01 and C36.02.
