Died : 9th April 1918

Over 47,000 Artillerymen were to die during the Great War. Among them was 25 year old Sergeant Ernest Barnes. He first joined the Sussex Royal Garrison Artillery as a Gunner in Lewes with a service number of 620. Later he transferred from that Territorial Force unit into the Regular branch with a new number of 119304 and rose eventually to the rank of sergeant in June 1916.

He was born in Ringmer on 21st November 1891 of Walter and Emily and lived in the village at Rushy Green. Schooled at Ringmer from 14th April 1896 until 15th April 1904, Ernest was to attain his grades each year. He married Alice Jane Reed from Dover early in 1916 and they lived at 11 Lime Terrace, Lewes. They had two children, Ernest Edgar and Alice Vera Barnes. In common with so many bereaved young mothers his widow was to re-marry soon after the war and, as Mrs Alice Baker, lived at 146 Malling Street, Lewes. She naturally was entitled to her former husband’s British War & Victory medals. As he died in hospital, rather than on the battlefield where they might have been lost, his personal effects including his wallet with family photos and his wedding ring were saved and returned to his widow. Because of the connection with Lewes and Ringmer he is named on both War Memorials. It is noticed that, whereas the severely damaged Service Papers record the names and dates of birth of two children, Mrs Alice Jane Baker, was awarded a pension of £1/2/11d per week in respect of herself, but only one child, with effect from 14.10.1918.

Letter from Alice Baker to the War Office among Ernest Barnes' service records, severeley damaged by fire in 1940.

Promoted to Corporal in April 1916 Ernest Barnes was soon to be promoted again and service in France and Flanders followed from 25th September 1916. He had transferred from 176 Siege Battery via several other units before his final posting to 253 Siege Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA) on 30th January 1918. It was armed with six 6” howitzers. They were short barrelled guns designed mainly for lobbing their 100lb shells over intervening obstacles into the enemy fortifications. Their maximum range of 9,500 yards was rarely required. There were many different artillery pieces in use in the First World War of which the 6” 26cwt BL Howitzer was but one. It was nevertheless a reliable work-horse and fired over 22 million shells at the enemy in France & Flanders. That represents around one million tons of steel and high explosives hurtling through the air - from that type of gun alone! Needless to say the Germans did not like it coming at them. They retaliated and we followed suit by targeting the opposing batteries and having ‘counter battery shoots’. Perhaps half of all siege batteries were fired at each other's gun positions, rather than each other's trenches and fortifications. That strategy accounted for the huge number of casualties incurred by the Royal Artillery.

By the beginning of April 1918 the German Spring Offensive was grinding to a halt in the area occupied by Sergeant Barnes. They were checked just outside of the vital French pivotal city of Amiens, after pushing our forces back over 30 miles on this front. Ground that the Allies had fought to take back inch by inch over the entire war to date was lost again in nine days. It was not realised that the enemy had exhausted his main thrust and further attacks were still expected by the minute.

From 1st to 4th April the XXII Artillery Brigade of which the 253rd Siege Battery was a part, had established its Headquarters in Cachy, about seven miles east of Amiens. The gun batteries were located nearby and they continually exchanged fire with their German counterparts. Reports were received that the enemy was massing, evidently to resume his attack. Fire was rained down on his infantry positions causing great damage and inflicting many casualties. On 5th April the Brigade was parked in Cagny, a suburb of Amiens but on the 6th was once more in action to ward off yet another anticipated attack. Throughout the next three days the batteries maintained a harassing fire on all observed enemy positions. They also fired in support of our own infantry wherever it was most effective to assist them.

During those early and vital days of April the battery had seven gunners killed outright and a further twenty one wounded. It is not known exactly when Ernest Barnes fell mortally wounded; however, despite the Army Casualty Form B.103 implying the 2nd April the most likely date is 4th April 1918. The War Diary records that, ‘between 6am and 8am all battery positions and Brigade HQ were heavily shelled by 10.5 & 15cm howitzers.’ After initial treatment he was taken to No. 3 Australian General Hospital in Abbeville where he unfortunately succumbed to his wounds on 9th April 1918. It is recorded that he had severe facial and chest wounds as well as multiple fractures to his right arm which was amputated in an attempt to save his life. He is buried in Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension.

His parents pre-deceased him, his mother dying on 13th February 1915 whereas his father, Walter had died prior to the War. Ernest had two brothers, one of them, John, served with the 2nd Royal Sussex Regiment in the Great War. He had been a pre-war regular and fought with the 1st Battalion in the South African War. At the time of his mother’s death John was recuperating in England from shrapnel wounds received at Ypres. He is reported as, ‘having just previously saved the life of a wounded comrade, carrying him to safety.’ He rejoined his unit in France and survived the War. The other brother, Walter James had been born on 6th August 1880 before the family had came to Ringmer from Laughton. They lived initially at ‘The Village’, before moving to Rushy Green. Following the death of their parents the three brothers moved to Lewes, with Walter and John being recorded as residing at 111 Malling Street.

Adapted from Valiant Hearts of Ringmer by Geoff Bridger: Ammonite Press, 1993