Arthur William Barnett 39935 / WW2-314256
F Company, New Zealand Expeditionary Force
F Company, New Zealand Expeditionary Force
24 October 1895 - 27 March 1980
Arthur is my great uncle, from my father's side of the family.
He was my great grandmother's brother.
I have researched the following information about Arthur
from his military records and other related texts.
I have endeavored to record the story of
his involvement in the war as accurately as possible.
his involvement in the war as accurately as possible.
 |
| Arthur W. Barnett Photo taken around 1917. Photographer unknown. (Photo courtesy of K J Bland) |
Arthur William Barnett was born in Auckland on 24 October 1895. He was the second youngest of the eleven children that were born to English immigrants, Walter Henry Barnett (known as Harry) (1 August 1844 - 7 May 1908) and Elizabeth Barnett (nee Lanfear) (9 October 1853 - 17 August 1937).
The first five children were born in Christchurch, New Zealand:
- Rachel (Ray) Barnett (25 Oct 1877 - 10 Sep 1939)
- Harriet Louisa (Loo/Lou) Barnett (6 Nov 1878 - 22 Mar 1965)
- Isabella (Bell) Barnett (31 Aug 1880 - 16 May 1959)
- Emily (Em) Barnett (24 Aug 1882 - 2 July 1970)
- Sydney (Syd) Walter Barnett (26 June 1884 - 20 Aug 1971)
- Alice Nellie Barnett (8 Aug 1886 - 4 Mar 1888)
- Chrissie Barnett (24 Dec 1888 - 8 Jan 1889)
- Stanley (Stan) James Barnett (20 Dec 1889- 31 July 1964)
- Bertie (Bert) Edward Barnett (31 Dec 1891 - 8 Mar 1917)
- Arthur William Barnett (24 Oct 1895 - 27 Mar 1980)
- Baden (Bay/Barney) Thomas Barnett (29 Aug 1900 - 15 Jan 1993)
When Arthur was born his father was 51 years old and his mother was 42. All of his surviving sisters were in their teens, so he would have been surrounded by motherly figures. Arthur's father initially worked as a carpenter when he first arrived in New Zealand, but at the time of his death he was a 'watchman', presumably providing security services for the community or a local business. The photograph below shows the Barnett family shortly after Arthur was born.
 |
| This photo of the Barnett family was taken around 1895. Photographer unknown. Photo courtesy of L Prole. |
 |
| Arthur's father, Walter Henry Barnett. Date and photographer unknown. Possibly taken around 1908. Photo courtesy of L Prole. |
 |
| Arthur's mother, Elizabeth Barnett (nee Lanfear). Date & photographer unknown. Possibly taken around 1937. Photo courtesy of L Prole |
Arthur finished his schooling at the end of his Standard 3 year, presumably, after his tenth birthday.
In 1902, six year old Arthur would have attended two Barnett weddings! His sister Emily married Charles Robert Bland. The Blands settled in Auckland. Another sister, Isabella, married Symon Henry Williams. They settled in Foxton.
Nothing is presently known about where Arthur was educated.
On 7 May 1908, when Arthur was 12 years old, his father died. Arthur probably went with his mother and siblings to the Waikumete Cemetery as they buried him. Twelve days later, Arthur's oldest sister Rachel, married John Leigh White in Auckland. It appears that around this time, Elizabeth and the children still under her care, moved to Foxton to be closer to Isabella and Symon.
Arthur's brother Bertie, who was four years older than him, enlisted for war in Avondale, Auckland and left New Zealand on a troopship on 18 December the same year. He was a tunneller working near Arras, France.
Arthur stated on his military file that he was Protestant, but elsewhere on the file he indicates that he didn't belong to any religious organisation.
Arthur enlisted to serve in World War I on 27 October 1916 in Palmerston North, although his service record dates from 13 November 1916. Two of Arthur's older brothers, Stanley James Barnett and Bertie Edward Barnett (known as Bert) also served in the war, but sadly, Bert never returned home. (Their stories can also be found on this blog.) While Arthur was physically fit according to his medical exam, his teeth needed a lot of work done on them but there was hope that he could be made 'dentally fit'.
Arthur wrote letters to his sister Em. Sections of two of them survive. On 23 January 1917 he wrote,
Dear Em,
I am writing these few lines to let you know that I am getting on very well. Yesterday we were inocculated the second time as a preventative from typhoid fever. It is a rather severe ordeal, some of the chaps fainting. Luckily I came through both of mine successfully. When we came back from our final leave, we went into camp at Tuaherenikau. After being there for about a fortnight, we came back to a place called Canvas-town, which is situated just outside Featherston. Unlike Trentham and Featherston, where we lived in huts holding 60 men, we are in tents each of which holds 8 men. We dine in dining halls which hold about 100 men each. While at Featherston, we used to dine in parties of between 500 and 600. It is quite a change after being used to dining with only 2 or 3. We had some very rough weather while at Tauherenikau, including a strong whirlwind, which came right into our tent one morning as we were getting up. It turned basins, pannikans, plates, knives and all sorts upside down and nearly blinded us with dust and small stones...
Have you heard from Bert lately? I think it would [be] nice if I was to send him a letter. I would not receive an answer of course, but I think he would be pleased to hear from me. I have been trying to find out whether we are getting another leave before we sail. Some think so, others think not. I would like a few days off myself. Well Em, I think I will now close, hoping this letter finds you all in the best of health, as I am at present.
I remain your loving brother,
Arthur
If you want my address, Em, it is
Private A W Barnett
"F" Company 24 Platoon
23rd Reinforcements
Featherston M C
Am enclosing a couple of broaches for you, Em. Hope you will like them. Arthur
News of Bertie's death on 8 March 1917 reached his family in New Zealand and hit them hard. Arthur, was in a military camp at the time, and preparing to sail to the Western Front when his youngest brother Bay (Baden) sent him a telegram to inform him of the news. Shortly afterwards, he wrote to his sister Emily (Em) Bland, nee Barnett. Below are excerpts of two letters written by Arthur, to Em. In one of them he mentions the emotions he feels after losing Bert. A portion of his letter reads... "I suppose you heard, Em, of the terrible news concerning poor Bert. Bay [younger brother Baden] sent me a telegram, just as we were about to begin our journey across the Rimutakas. It quite spoiled my trip. Poor fellow, he was constantly in my thoughts. I sometimes expected to hear of his death at the hands of the enemy, but little did I ever dream of the poor old chap going down to any disease."
 |
| Letters written by Arthur Barnett to his sister Em in 1917. (Courtesy of K J Bland) |
On 2 April 1917, Private Arthur Barnett sailed off from Wellington harbour with B Company, 4th Otago Regiment. They headed to Devonport in England, arriving there in June. On 10 June 1917, he passed through Sling Camp before being sent to 'the field' in France the following month. Nothing is known of the specific details of Arthur's service in Europe, except that he took leave in the UK from the 24 August until 9 September 1918.
In February 1919, Arthur was detached to the UK and was sent to Sutton Coldfield.
Arthur was given a medical examination at Sling Camp on 7 May 1919, before returning home, and was found to be in good health. He sailed back to New Zealand on the troopship, Waimana, and was formally discharged from service on 21 July 1919, after serving a total of 2 years, 251 days. Following the war, in September 1923, Arthur's medals (the British War Medal and the Victory Medal) were sent to him at Union Street, Foxton.
It is unclear what happened to Arthur immediately after the war, but at some point he got employment with the New Zealand Railways.
Judging from Arthur's military files from World War II, it appears that he never married, however, family records show that he married Elizabeth (Beth) Chamberlain (dates unknown). They had no children.
Arthur's mother, Elizabeth, passed away on 17 August 1937 in Foxton, aged 83. She was buried at the Foxton Cemetery, Anglican Block 3, Plot 28. A photo of her grave can be seen here.
45 year old Arthur signed up for service during the Second World War on 19 November 1940, in Wellington. He was attached to the 2nd Battalion, Wellington Regiment. His military number was 314256. Arthur listed Mrs S H Williams of 22 Union Street, Foxton, as his next of kin. Mrs Williams was Arthur's sister, Isabella (1880 - 1959). (Her husband was Symon Henry Williams.)
At the time of his enlistment, Arthur was employed by the New Zealand Government and worked at the Railways as a 'surfaceman'. His address was listed as Hut 365 Railway Yard in Papaparaumu, a short distance north of Wellington city. When doing his medical, it was noted that one of the tendons of his right index finger had been severed and so he was unable to bend his terminal joint. Probably because of this as well as his age, Arthur was given 'home duties' to perform during World War II.
 |
| Barnett brothers: Baden, Arthur, Stanley and Sydney Date & Photographer unknown. Photo courtesy of L Prole. |
 |
| Arthur Barnett with Elizabeth Chamberlain. This photo was taken in Hamilton. Date & Photographer unknown. Photo courtesy of L Prole. |
Sources of Information
Auckland War Memorial Online Cenotaph - Arthur William Barnett
Archives NZ - Archway Record R24054339
Hamilton City Council Cemetery Search
Wiki Tree - Arthur William Barnett
L Prole
Children of Walter and Elizabeth Barnett
- Rachel White (1877-1939) - born in ChCh along with 4 other siblings. In 1885/6 family moved back to Akd. Had 2 chn... husband John Leigh White died in WW1.
- Louisa Harriett Williams (known as Harriett) (1878-1965)
- Isabella Williams (Harriett and Isabella married brothers) (1880-1959)
- Emily Bland (1882 - 1970) Buried at Waikumete Cemetery NONCONFORMIST DIVISION D Row 13, Plot 51
- Sydney Walter Barnett (1884-20 Aug 1971) Was a Night Watchman. Buried Waikumete Cem PROTESTANT LAWN D Row 3, Plot 60
- Alice Nellie Barnett - died aged 18 months in Auckland (1886- 4 March 1888) Buried at Waikumete Cemetery ANGLICAN DIVISION B Row 6, Plot 21
- Chrissie Barnett - died aged 15 days in Auckland (25 Dec? 1888 8 Jan 1889) Buried at Waikumete Cemetery ANGLICAN DIVISION A Row 5, Plot 65
- Stanley James Barnett (1889-1964)
- Bertie Edward Barnett (1891-1917 died of sickness during WW1)
- Arthur William Barnett (1895-1980)
- Baden Thomas Barnett (1900-93)
Last updated 1 February 2020
No comments:
Post a Comment