George Barnes
Formerly a Private with the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, George died on 24th of February 1916 at the age of 33.
George was born at Lowestoft in 1883. He was a son of George and Harriet Barnes. At various times his family lived at Raglan Street and Chapel Street.
George was working as a labourer when he enlisted in the 4th Militia Battalion Norfolk Regiment at Lowestoft on 23 February 1900. George was 'embodied' (served full-time) with the militia from 1st May to 17 July 1900, but he may have had additional service for the 1901 Census shows him as a militia soldier based at the Colchester Garrison.
On 13th November 1902 George joined the regular army, attesting for the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry at Hull (it seems that his parents had moved to Hull by this time). George was given the service number 7149 and intended to serve three years with the Colours and nine with the Reserve. He served with the 2nd Battalion and then the 1st Battalion and spent two years in South Africa. George joined Section B of the Army Reserve on 23rd May 1905.
It seems that George returned to Lowestoft and began work as a fisherman. In 1911 he was living at 2 Dove Street Lowestoft.
George was mobilized when the First World War began and rejoined his regiment. He arrived in France on 21st August 1914, and served with D Company of the 1st Battalion. Soon George became unwell and was admitted to the 14th Field Ambulance on 4th September 1914 and also spent some weeks in hospital at Lyon. On 21 December 1914, George was transferred to England and admitted to military hospital.
Eventually it was found that George had tuberculosis and he was found to be permanently unfit for further service. He was discharged from the Army on 14th November 1915 and went back to Lowestoft, again residing at 2 Dove Street.
George's condition deteriorated and he died, of pulmonary tuberculosis, at 2 Dove Street, Lowestoft, on 24th February 1916.
Although George was not a 'battle casualty' he was one of thousands of British soldiers who died from a disease that would have been made worse because of his military service. At present, because he was discharged after his military service, he does not have any Commonwealth War Graves (CWGC) commemoration, but it is hoped that this will be remedied in the future.
On Saint Margaret's War Memorial.
(With thanks to Peter on The Great War Forum for the detailed information)
Case now submitted - address he would be residing at according to his discharge was 2 Dove Street, Lowestoft, and that is where he would pass away from Pulmonary Tuberculosis on the 24th February 1916.
Image courtesy the General Registrars Office.
He had served four months in France & Flanders with the 1st Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. He landed in France on the 21st August 1914 so must have been part of the early if not the first replacement draft. Following the retreat from Mons he was treated for Bronchitis, and this is possibly when he spent three weeks in a hospital at Lyon. Subsequent medical boards put his contraction of tuberculosis down to active service during this period, with over exposure to cold and wet.
Medically repatriated to England, he was initially placed on the establishment of the Regimental Depot from the 22nd December 1914. As late as May 1915 a medical board still believed him to have a fibroid on his lung, and although the doctors suspected it was tuberculoid it had proved impossible to prove it. He as recommended for home \ light duties - so who knows how many more he might have infected. On the 6th November 1915, while serving with the 3rd Battalion, he was admitted to Parkhurst Hospital, on the 10th T.B. was confirmed and he was discharged on the 14th - such was the haste that the medical board didn't sit to confirm the decision until the 20th.
One has to wonder how many of the original B.E.F. suffered a similar fate as a result of those opening months of campaigning.
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George Barnes
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Dove Street
Lowestoft
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