WORKING NOTES

Born 14/11/1896, Briton Ferry. Parents - William & Sarah Jane

1901 - School Row, Giants Grave, Briton Ferry. 4yo. W parents & younger brother

1911 - 47 Owens Row, Giant Grave. 14yo. Occ-Blacksmith Striker, Engineering Works. W parents & 2 younger sibs

1921 - 47 Owens Row, Giant Grave. 24y7m. Occ-Cutter Up?, Giants Grave. W parents & 2 younger sis

1923 - Married Mary H Davies, Q3 Swansea

1939 - 95 Glanymor St, Neath. DOB 19/11/1896. Occ-Municipal General Labourer. W wife, Mary Ellen, Thomas D (1923), William R (1925) & redacted

1975 - Died 10/2/1975. DOB 19/11/1896

- Buried Ynysymaerdy Cemetery, Briton Ferry.

Thomas James Barnett enlisted in the 1st Welsh (Howitzer) Brigade prior to the start of the Great War. This is clear because he was awarded the Territorial War Medal (TWM), which was only given to pre-War Territorials who volunteered to fight overseas, but did not receive the 1914 or 1914/15 Star.

Given his age, it is most likely he joined the Brigade when the new Neath drill hall opened in May 1914. At this time, he would have been 17 years old, the minimum age for recruits. If this is right, his Brigade service number would be somewhere between 750 and 830.

When War was declared, the Brigade was getting ready to go on Summer Camp. This was quickly cancelled and the men were embodied for War Service and they moved to Shrewsbury where the Welsh Territorial Division concentrated.

From Shrewsbury, the Brigade moved to Northampton at the start of September 1914 and at this time they were asked to sign their Imperial Service papers. The purpose of the Territorials at this time was to defend the UK, so they had to volunteer for overseas service – this was referred to as Imperial Service. This was the ‘test’ for receiving the TWM, so we can be sure that Gnr TJ Barnett signed his papers.

Just before Christmas 1914, the Brigade moved to Cambridge and in May 1914 they moved to Bedford. It is likely Gnr Barnett was with the Brigade throughout this. As the Brigade readied themselves to fight, they received drafts of recruits from Swansea.

In November 1915, the Brigade finally received orders to travel overseas and there was a last minute reorganisation of the Brigade to pick the men to travel overseas. Despite volunteering, Gnr Barnett was not selected, very possibly because of his age again (at the time he was on the cusp of turning 19, the minimum age to serve overseas.

At this time, he transferred to the 2nd Line who were based in the St Neots area. A newspaper clipping from June 1916 is a record of the 2nd Line sports day at St Neots. Despite not stating 2/1 Welsh (Howitzer) Brigade in the article, we know they were in St Neots and most/all of the men and officers listed have links to the Brigade. Gnr Barnett won the mule race which aligns with a family story that he tended 2 mules in the Middle East (called Something & Nothing).

Based on his later Service Number (745556), on 2 September 1916, he transferred to the 68th Division Ammunition Column (DAC). The 68th DAC was part of the 2nd Welsh Division and served on home defence duties throughout the war, whilst recruiting training and supplying drafts to units serving overseas. The 2nd Welsh Division was stationed for the majority of the War in East Anglia, particularly in Norfolk and Suffolk.

At some point, Gnr TJ Barnett served overseas and received the British War Medal & Victory Medal. Whilst no records have been found , the family reference to the Middle East makes a lot of sense as the Egyptian Expeditionary Force expanded rapidly during the summer of 1917 as they prepared for the Third Battle of Gaza. If this is correct, its likely he served through the taking of Jerusalem in Dec 1917 and the push through Palestine in 1918. Casualties were light (compared to the Western Front), but illness was common and in particular many of the men suffered from Malaria.

When the war finished, the army returned to Alexandria to demobilise. This was delayed briefly due to civil unrest, but once this was resolved, the men returned home, typically arriving between Feb and April 1919.

For his service in the Great War, Gnr TJ Barnett received the British War Medal, Victory Medal & Territorial War Medal