Corporal Thomas Hardy Barnett was born in Nafferton, Yorkshire, England, on August 20, 1892, to parents Waters Hardy and Matilda Elizabeth Barnett. He immigrated to Canada in 1910. At the time of his enlistment he was working as a sailor.
He enlisted with the 9th Canadian Mounted Rifles (C.M.R.) Regiment in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, on December 30, 1914. Shortly after arriving in England in December 1915 Barnett spent several weeks with the Royal Canadian Dragoons before joining “A” Canadian Mobile Veterinary Section (C.M.V.S.), Canadian Calvary Brigade, and proceeding to France in early April 1916. He remained with the C.M.V.S. until February 1919 when he was transferred to the Fort Gary Horse. Following his return to Canada he was demobilized on June 2, 1919.
The Thomas Barnett Collection was donated together with the collection of his younger brother Private John Barnett who, like Thomas, had immigrated to Canada prior to the war. John enlisted at Saskatoon into the 9th C.M.R. in late December 1914.
Also donated were materials relating to the service of their brother Sergeant William Allison Barnett, MM. The oldest of the three brothers, William had remained in England and prior to the war was a member of the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, East Yorkshire Volunteer Rifles. During the War he served with the Machine Gun Corps, 150th Company. He was killed during the Battle of the Somme on September 15, 1916, and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. He was posthumously awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field. The “Other” section below under “Collection Contents” has been reserved for materials specific to Sgt. William Barnett.
External links:
Cpl. Thomas Barnett’s service record (Serv/Reg# 114506) can be viewed/downloaded in pdf format through Library and Archives Canada.
No service record is available of Sgt. William Barnett’s service with the British Expeditionary Force.
Burial information for Sgt. William Barnett is available at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
The awarding of Sgt. William Barnett’s Military Medal was published in the London Gazette on November 15, 1916.
