Barnes, Lyman Franklin

Lyman Franklin Barnes was born 26 July 1893 in Brantford Ontario to Frank and Ada (nee Tarney) Barnes. His father was an auto mechanic. There are few records of his family but by 1911 he was an only child living with his parents in Hamilton.

His service career with the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) was short. He appears to have made his way to United Kingdom on his own and attested to the CEF at its depot in Shorncliffe 17 April 1916, being posted to the 32nd Canadian Infantry Battalion (Manitoba). He gave his former occupation as a civil engineer. This experience led him to be posted to an officer training unit at Keble College, Oxford University and on 16 September 1916 to the Royal Engineers school at Chatham. By 2 December 1916 he is officially discharged from the CEF as he had been offered a commission in the Royal. By 10 March 1917 his commission is effective and Canadian military records cease. They do note that Lt Barnes had been hospitalized in United Kingdom for a gunshot wound to the left shoulder 7 June 1917.

Canadian military records treat him as a British officer and provide no further details on his career. His medals reflect his service with the British army which extended after the war. His tours included postings in India and Afghanistan in the 1920’s and suggest he was promoted as an engineer to Lt Colonel.

A marriage certificate (with all details correct except his birthplace) has him getting married in Toronto to a Gladys Morgan. The 1974 voters’ list shows a Lyman F Barnes living in Buckhorn Cavendish Township with the occupation of “gentleman”, but no record of death or burial was noted.