Joseph Edward Barnett
1881 - 1915

Researched and written by Alan Betts (Burntwood Family History Group webmaster)

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Joseph Edward Barnett was born in Wolverhampton in 1881. He is the great-uncle of Alan Betts, the Burntwood Family History Group webmaster.

Joseph's parents were Thomas BARNETT and Hannah OWEN. They were married on 25 December 1880 at Holy Trinity Church in Short Heath, Willenhall, and moved to Littleworth in 1883. Joseph's father Thomas was looking for work in the brickyards. 

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Joseph left school and went to work down the coal mines. In 1911 he was employed as a coal hewer. Then, in 1914, at the age of 33 he answered Kitchener's call and enlisted as a Private in the 7th Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment with regimental number 15076. 

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With the 6thBattalion Lincolnshire Regiment, the 6th Battalion Border Regiment and the 9th Battalion Sherwood Foresters, the 7th Batalion South Staffordshire Regiment formed the 11th Division of the 33rd Infantry Brigade.

In July 1915, they were sent to Gallipoli and on 30th November Joseph was wounded and taken to a field hospital on Lemnos. The following day, 1st December 1915, he died from his wounds and was buried in East Mudros Military Cemetery, Lemnos. The location of his grave is Plot III.D.111.

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Joseph's name appears on both the Hednesford War Memorial and Cannock, Church Street Memorial.

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Joseph's name also appears in The Remembrance Book of Hednesford and District War Memorial.

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Alan Betts, the Burntwood Family History Group webmaster, went to East Mudros Military Cemetery in June 2010 where he visited Joseph's grave to pay his respects.

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Alan then wrote the story of Joseph's short army career and it appeared in the July 2010 issue of "The Horror of Gallipoli" journal.

If you want any information on Joseph Edward Barnet, or if you have any information about him, please contact Alan Betts through Burntwood Family History Group.

Contact Burntwood Family History Group

Item, Source and Credit

1.   Photograph of Private Joseph Edward Barnett @ Alan Betts (BFHG)

2.   Extract from the 1891 census for the family of Thomas and Hannah Barnett @ Ancestry

3.   Extract from the 1901 census for the family of Thomas and Hannah Barnett @ Ancestry

4.   Extract from the 1911 census for the family of Thomas and Hannah Barnett @ Ancestry

5.   WW1 Kichener Recruitment Poster @ Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Kitchener_Wants_You

6.   British Army World War I Medal Roll Index Card, 1914-1920, for 15076 Private Joseph Edward Barnett @ Ancestry

7.   Commemorative certificate for 15076 Private Joseph Edward Barnett @ Commonwealth War Graves Commission

8.   Plan of East Mudros Military Cemetery. The location for Private Joseph Edward Barnett's grave is III.D.111 @ Commonwealth War Graves Commission

9.   Photograph East Mudros Military Cemetery © RSL Virtual War Memorial website (https://rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au/explore/cemeteries/48)

10.  Photograph East Mudros Military Cemetery © New Zealand War Graves Project (https://www.nzwargraves.org.nz/cemeteries/east-mudros-military-cemetery)

11.  Photograph East Mudros Military Cemetery © New Zealand War Graves Project (https://www.nzwargraves.org.nz/cemeteries/east-mudros-military-cemetery)

12.  Hednesford War Memorial @ Alan Betts (BFHG)

13.  Panel on Hednesford War Memorial @ Alan Betts (BFHG)

14.  Cannock, Church Street War Memorial @ Alan Betts (BFHG)

15.  The Remembrance Book of Hednesford and District War Memorial @ Alan Betts (BFHG)

16.  Inside page from The Remembrance Book of Hednesford and District War Memorial @ Alan Betts (BFHG)

17.  Alan Betts visiting the grave of 15076 Private Joseph Edward Barnett in East Mudros Military Cemetery @ Alan Betts

18.  WW1 cartoon propaganda postcard about army recruitment @ Look and Learn History Picture Library (https://www.lookandlearn.com/history-images/XD134891/WW1-cartoon-propaganda-postcard-about-army-recruitment?t=2&q=recruitment&n=68)