I'm researching my local war dead & I've come across: Cpl of Horse Robert Oxley Barnes 305253 listed by the CWGC as a member of Royal Horse Guards 2nd Bn. All evidence would suggest he died in the UK, in fact he appears to have died 3 days before the Guards Chapel was hit by a V1. In my experience the CWGC can be subject to the odd typo so I was wondering if anyone had a copy of the Roll of Honour from the bombing so I could double check. Alternatively, if anyone has any other information, that would be great. Thanks
Hello John, CWGC :: Casualty Details I'm in contact with someone who has been researching the Guards Chapel bombing for quite a few years now. This is the list that we have collaborated on and as you can see Barnes does not feature on it. It's not been easy to get evidence for those who died of injuries sustained on that day, let alone a full list of the names of those who were killed outright. guards chapel. I suppose that 18 may be noted in error as 15 but what makes you think he was a victim of this incident? Regards Diane
Just clutching at straws really. With it being so difficult to pin down the cause of death for individual soldiers, especially if they died in the UK, I figured it was worth a shot. Back to the drawing board. Thanks anyway
Name: BARNES, ROBERT OXLEY Initials: R O Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Corporal of Horse Regiment/Service: Royal Horse Guards Unit Text: 2nd Age: 26 Date of Death: 15/06/1944 Service No: 305253 Additional information: Son of Robert and Sallie Barnes; husband of Betty Sophia Barnes, of Charing Heath. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Cemetery: CHARING (KENT COUNTY) CREMATORIUM His Death Certificate may give a different location than those in London killed by the V1, especially as he doesn't seem to be included in the 121 deaths in the Book of Remembrance.
There is a strong possibility that he died - of wounds/accident/natural causes on the 15th, and his body was taken to the crematorium in accordance with his wishes and cremated. As KevinW4 suggests try and get hold of a copy of his death certificate or try and find appropriate date in war diary to see if he is mentioned.
A Robert Oxley Barnes commemorated here GENUKI: Photograph of the The World War I and II Memorial in front of the castle at Flamborough., Yorkshire
Re Flamborough Castle Memorial Name: DUNN, WILLIAM FEILDS Initials: W F Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Driver Regiment/Service: Royal Army Service Corps Secondary Regiment: Royal Artillery Secondary Unit Text: attd. 106 (The Lancashire Hussars) Lt. A.A. Regt. Age: 31 Date of Death: between 26/04/1941 and 27/04/1941 Service No: T/175679 Additional information: Son of Feilds Spencer Dunn and Maud Nellie Dunn; husband of Alice Dunn, of Flamborough, Yorkshire. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Face 8. Memorial: ATHENS MEMORIAL Name: HARRISON, ALAN BRUCE Initials: A B Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Flight Lieutenant (Pilot) Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Unit Text: 61 Sqdn. Date of Death: 03/09/1941 Service No: 39732 Awards: D S O Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: 5. Z. 6. Cemetery: BERLIN 1939-1945 WAR CEMETERY plus Geoff found these 7, some of whom are on the other faces:- 001 BURGESS JW D/JX 304613 HM SUBMARINE UNIQUE 23/10/1942 ROYAL NAVY 002 DUNN WF T/175679 ATTD 106 THE LANCASHIRE HUSSARS LT AA REGT 26/04/1941 - - 27/04/1941 ROYAL ARMY SERVICE CORPS 003 EMMERSON J 4389443 6TH BN 06/06/1944 GREEN HOWARDS (YORKSHIRE REGIMENT) 004 GOOD GH 13023585 5TH BN 14/07/1943 EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT 005 HILDREW CE - - 14/07/1940 CIVILIAN WAR DEAD 006 JAMES FS C/J 109512 HM SUBMARINE TALISMAN 18/09/1942 ROYAL NAVY 007 JAMESON P - - 12/09/1941 CIVILIAN WAR DEAD so perhaps his parents had a Flamborough link?
Thanks for your help. It's actually the Flamborough Cenotaph that I'm researching, having grown up there. As far as I can tell he was born & raised there before moving away. I shall have to follow Oldman's advice & chase up his death certificate. Thanks
Robert Barnes was married to my mother Betty Sophia (La Trobe) Barnes. I don't know the full details of his death but I understood that he was killed while on his motorbike by a US army truck which was driving on the wrong side of the road. He was brought up in Yorkshire, met my mother who came from Kent in the Household Cavalry and they married and had one daughter before he was killed. I hope this helps.
