Barnett, William Edwin

BORN HULL 22/10/1882. ONLY SON OF WILLIAM JOHN BARNETT AND MARGARET LOUISA MALT, OF 1, BANNISTER BUILDINGS, NAYLOR ROW, WITHAM, HULL & 4, PARADISE ROW, CHARLOTTE STREET. HULL (WAR PENSION ADDRESSES). THEIR OTHER CHILD, BENJAMIN BARNETT, HAD DIED IN 1893, AGED 19.

WILLIAM MARRIED, ISABEL VICTORIA MAUD CRAYCRAFT (1883-1949), ON 13/08/1902, AT HULL. HE WORKED AS A PUB LANDLORD IN LAMBETH, SOUTH LONDON. HIS WIFE AND FOUR DAUGHTERS LIVED AT 18, RUGBY STREET, HULL.

HE ENLISTED IN HULL. SERVED AS CORPORAL IN THE 1/4TH EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT. KILLED IN ACTION, ON 27/05/1918, AGED 35. HE IS COMMEMORATED ON THE SOISSONS MEMORIAL. HIS ARMY EFFECTS WERE LEFT TO HIS DAUGHTER, ELSIE MAY BARNETT, AT 5 LABURNAM VILLAS, GEORGE STREET, CHEETHAM HILL, MANCHESTER.
HIS DEATH WAS REPORTED IN THE HULL DAILY MAIL, ON 12/07/1918.

1/4^th East Yorkshire Battalion War Diary – 27^th May 1918

When the storm of gas and High Explosive shells broke over the 50^th Division, at 1am, on 27 May 1918, the 1/4^th East Yorkshire Regiment of the 150^th Brigade (the left Battalion, of the left Brigade of the Division) were disposed as follows: “A” Company held the front line,  “B” Company was in close support in Trench Falais (in CRONNE, at the disposal of the 5^th Green Howards (on the right of the 1/4^th EYR), “D” Company was in support in Marais. For two and half hours the Tornado swept the whole divisional area, causing many casualties and practically destroying the Trenches. The 1/4^th EYR was completely disorganised and rear guard actions were fought back to the River Aisne and the Bridge at Maizy, “the number which succeeded in crossing being very small.” Total strength of the 1/4^th EYR was 4 Officers and 105 Other Ranks, out of 30 Officers and 642 Other Ranks, which began, before the attack. The Battle continued until 6^th June 1918, but the 1/4^th  EYR took no further part after the 27^th May and retired to Vert La Gravelle.