­Private 12932 Edward Barnett, 20th Battalion, Manchester Regiment

Edward Barnett was one of the youngest British soldiers to have served overseas during the First World War. Edward was born in Salford on 17th February 1902, the son of Jonathan and Isabella Barnett. Edward had four older siblings: George, William, Isabel and Eliza. In 1911 the Barnett family were living at 38 Fildes Street, Hightown, Salford. They later lived at 14 Glen Street, Cheetham Hill, Manchester and then 75 Orient Street, Cheetham.

Edward originally enlisted on 23rd May 1915 at Manchester into the 7th Battalion (Territorial Force), Manchester Regiment, giving his age as 18 years and four months. He was 5 feet 6 ½ inches tall with brown hair, brown eyes and good physical development. He was passed as medically fit to serve but was discharged five days’ later, on 27th May, under King’s Regulation Paragraph 392 iii (b) ‘not likely to become an efficient soldier (recruit passed by Medical Officer, but rejected by a Recruiting Officer stationed away from the headquarters of the recruiting area, or by Approving Officer).’ It appears that the Territorials may have identified Edward as underage.

On that very same day (27th May 1915), Edward, determined to ‘do his bit’, went to a different recruiting station and enlisted into the 19th (Service) Battalion of the Manchester Regiment (more commonly known as the 4th City Pals). He gave his age as 19 years old but in fact he was only 13 years old. Despite his short time in the Territorial Force, he answered ‘no’ to the question ‘have you ever served in any branch of His Majesty’s Forces?’

Private Edward Barnett, Manchester Regiment

On 23rd December 1915, 13 year old Edward was sent out to France with a draft of men to join the 20th (Service) Battalion, The Manchester Regiment (5th City Pals), who, at the time, were billeted at Molliens-Vidame (10 miles to the west of Amiens). After a spell of training at Molliens-Vidame, the battalion moved up towards the front line, marching for three days to Morlancourt, which they reached on 1st February 1916. The next day they went into reserve dug-outs south of the village of Fricourt and spent four days there before returning to their billets at Morlancourt. On the 15th February the battalion moved up to the front line at Bois Francais, opposite the village of Fricourt. The Bois Francais was in an area of high ground that was highly prized by both the British and German commanders because of the excellent views it provided over Fricourt and the area behind the village. Regular mining and counter-mining by both sides had left the landscape heavily cratered. The 20th Battalion served in this area throughout Edward’s time in France, moving between their billets at Morlancourt to the front line at Bois Francais, where they were engaged in trench work and preparing jumping off trenches for the forthcoming Somme offensive. 

After serving for five months (116 days) on the Western Front, his age was discovered and he was posted home on 15th April and discharged from the Army on 25th May 1916, ‘having made a mis-statement as to age on enlistment’. His character on discharge was described as ‘good’

Edward was only 16 years old when the war finally came to an end on 11th November 1918. Despite his underage status Edward was entitled to and received his war medals: 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

1914-15 Star Trio belonging to Private Edward Barnett, Manchester Regiment

References:

The National Roll of Honour, Section XIV Salford. The National Publishing Company.

Manchester Evening News 1969.

TNA WO 364 - Service records. The National Archives.

Van Emden, Richard. Boys soldiers of the Great War. Bloomsbury Paperbacks (England, 2012).

Stedman, Michael. Manchester Pals. Leo Cooper (Great Britain, 1994)