Able Seaman Osborn Barnes

 

Able Seaman Osborn Barnes

Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve

Able Seaman Osborn Barnes was born 11th May 1894 in Little Houghton Nr Barnsley Yorkshire. He was the son of John and Zillah Barnes and one of a family of twelve.  The 1911 census records the family as living in Attercliffe, Sheffield Yorkshire, where Osborn’s father, John Barnes, is recorded as working as a butcher and farmer.

Before his enlistment Osborn was living in Little Houghton and working as a ‘Horseman on Farm’. He enlisted on the 18th November 1915 as an Ordinary Seaman and was attached to the 6 Battalion of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. In June 1916 he was transferred to the 2nd Drake Battalion Royal Naval Division and was later drafted into the 189th Brigade Machine Gun Company as a Machine Gunner.

On the 1st September 1916 the 189th Brigade embarked on the ‘S.S Onward’ at Folkstone and disembarked at Boulogne. On the 4th October the Royal Naval Division was transferred to the 5th Corps and told to prepare for an assault north of the River Ancre.

The 189th Brigade fought in the Battle of the Ancre, (13-18 November 1916) during which the Royal Naval Division was decimated but had succeeded where others had failed for months

Able Seaman Osborn Barnes was killed in action on the 13th November 1916 during the Battle of Ancre.

Remembered with Honour
Ancre British Cemetery. Beaumont-Hamel, Somme, France.