William Barnes

WWI Roll of Honour

by Lynette Wray

William Barnes

Military History:        

Regiment:                               Royal Navy

Rank:                                      Acting Stoker Petty Officer

Service Number:                    K/8196

Date of Enlisting:                   10.8.1910

Date of death:                        15.7.1960

Cemetery/ Memorial:             Ashwell Cemetery

UK Cemetery/Memorial:       St Mary’s Church Ashwell Roll of Honour

William enlisted in the Navy on 10th August 1910 at aged only 16, but his Navy records show he claimed to be two years older.

William’s Navy records show him serving on Depot Ships in British and Mediterranean waters during WWI, rising to the rank of Acting Stoker Petty Officer.  He survived the war and returned to Hertfordshire.  He appears to still have been in the Navy in July 1930.

William was awarded the 14/15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal

William died on 15 July 1960 and is buried in Ashwell Cemetery.  He is commemorated on the St Mary’s Church Ashwell Roll of Honour

Family History:

Date of Birth:                6.7.1894

Birth Place:                  Finsbury Park, London

Residence:                   Ashwell, Hertfordshire

Marriage:                     13.10.1917

William was the son of William and Ann (nee Waldock) Barnes born on 7th July 1894 at Finsbury Park, Middlesex. 

He was a pupil of the Merchant Taylors School in Ashwell.  His records show him as having been a farm labourer before joining the Navy.

William married Mabel Violet Sheldrick on 13th October 1917 in Ashwell, Hertfordshire. They had one daughter Dorothy Joan, born in Ashwell on 2nd January 1919, and one son, William John Barnes, born on 2nd July 1922 in Ashwell and who also joined the Navy and died in Rhodesia on 13 October 1952.

William died in Ashwell, Hertfordshire on 15 July 1960.

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