Military History

Embarked Fremantle per HMAT ‘Persic’ A34 for England 29.12.1916.
Roll Rank Private.
Roll Unit 6th Reinforcement, 39th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force.
Barnes disembarked at Devonport with the 39th Battalion 3.3.1917. He marched out to Larkhill, then to No.10 Training Battalion at Sutton Mandeville 21.3.1917. He was transferred to 67th Training Battalion at Windmill Hill Perham Downs 28.4.1917. Barnes returned to the 39th Battalion Reinforcement 28.4.1917. He proceeded overseas for France from Southampton, with his unit. Barnes marched in to Rouelles from England and taken on Strength with 39th Battalion 1.9.1917. His unit fought at Broodseinde Ridge on 4th October. During this Battle on the Somme, Barnes was reported Missing in Action 4.10.1917.
The Court of Inquiry determined that he was KIA 4.10.1917. Barnes was buried in Field. This was noted on Map Sheet 28NE. D 25 d 2.1. His body was not recovered nor reinterred to a marked grave. His name is Commemorated at the Menin Gate War Memorial, Ypres, West Vlaanderen, Flanders, Belgium.
Final Rank Private, 39th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force.
Medical Condition Deceased, KIA.
Awards and Medals British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Notes- Obituary
‘Farewell in hope and love,
In faith and peace and prayer
‘Til whose home is ours above,
Unite us there.’
(West Australian Newspaper, In Memoriam 4.10.1919)

Photos SS 'Persic' A37. Photograph donor Estate of Miss Phyllis Litherland,  photograph source AWM P00575.001
           View across shell holes from Broodsiende Ridge, Passchendaele area, Ypres. Photograph source AWM E01149
           Menin Gate War Memorial 1938. Secured by Captain James Murphy of the British War Graves Commission. Photograph source AWM H16916
         
Information Source
AWM P00575.00.S 'Persic' A37. Photograph donor Estate of Miss Phyllis Litherland,  photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E01149. View across shell holes from Broodsiende Ridge, Passchendaele area, Ypres. Photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Austraian War Memorial
AWM H16916. Menin Gate War Memorial 1938. Secured by Captain James Murphy of the British War Graves Commission. Photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
Australian War Memorial Embarkation Roll- William Patrick Barnes
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour- William Patrick Barnes.
Guildford War Memorial
NAA: B2455, Barnes W P
West Australian Newspaper
Wise, H. and Co. Western Australian Post Office Directories. SLWA

Railway Station, Swan Street, East Guildford, WA.

Associated Images