Reginald Barnes DSO

Reginald Walter Ralph Barnes was born at Stoke Canon Exeter on 13 April 1871, the son of Rev Reginald Henry Barnes. He came from a theatrical family; his brother was Sir Kenneth Barnes, Principal of RADA, and his sisters were well-known actresses, Violet and Dame Irene Vanbrugh. He was educated at Westminster School. After joining the Shropshire LI Militia in Dec 1888 he gained a commission in the 4th Hussars in Dec 1890. Another young subaltern in the 4th was Winston Churchill, and together they were sent on attachment to the Spanish Army during the Cuban War of Independence with instructions to observe the effectiveness of a new type of bullet. On his return to England, Barnes was appointed adjutant of the 4th as from May 1896.
When the Boer War started he was on attachment again, this time to serve with the Imperial Light Horse, and promoted to captain. He fought at Elandslaagte, at Tugela Heights, the relief of Mafeking, Belfast and the operations around the Transvaal and Pretoria. He was awarded the DSO. For the rest of the war he was attached to the Yeomanry. In 1904 he was ADC to Lord Kitchener in India, returning to England to instruct at Netheravon Cavalry School. In Dec 1907 he was promoted to major and transferred to the 17th Lancers, but two years later he was in Malta as Assistant Military Secretary to Leslie Rundle, Governor and C-in-C.
In February 1911 he was transferred to the 10th Hussars in India as their new commanding officer. In 1912 the 10th went to South Africa but when war broke out in 1914 they sailed to England to prepare for active service in France. They were part of the BEF which fought at the first battle of Ypres. Lieutenant-Colonel Barnes was wounded twice in this battle, relieved of command whilst out of action, and in April 1915 promoted to brigadier-general in charge of an infantry brigade in the 39th Division. The battalions under his command were from the Sussex and Hampshire regiments. He stayed with this brigade until Nov 1916 when he was given command of one of Kitchener’s new army Divisions and the TA 57th Division.
After the war Major-General Barnes was appointed Colonel of the 4th Hussars, on 18 Jan 1919, and in June was invested as Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath. He also, in 1919, married Gunhilla Wijk, a widow, and lived at Oakhay Barton, Stoke Canon in Devon. Their son served in the Coldstream Guards and was killed in WW2. Reginald Barnes retired from the army in 1921 and was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Devon in Aug 1927. He was also a JP. He died on 19 Dec 1946. The photo of CO Lieutenant-Colonel Barnes is a detail from a group of 10th Hussars officers c1913. The caricature of him in South Africa in 1914 is taken from the 10th Royal Hussars Gazette.

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