Fred was born on the 5th August 1880 to parents William Barnett and Mary Jane nee Aldersea at 7 Newport Street, Burslem, Staffordshire. William and Mary Jane were married in December 1861 registered in Wolstanton. William and Mary would have ten children; William George born 1862, Mary Ann born 1864, George born 1866, Elizabeth born 1869, Emma born 1871, Leonard born 1874, John Aldersea born 1877, Fred born 1880, Gertrude Fanny born 1884 and finally Minnie born 1886.

Fred's older brother Leonard would go on to be the father of 96005 PRIVATE LEONARD BARNETT 10TH BATTALION NOTTS AND DERBY REGIMENT also on the Royal Doulton, Burslem Memorial.

The 1871 census shows William (31) and Mary Jane (29) living at 109 New Street, Burslem, Staffordshire with children William George (9), Jane (7), George (5), Elizabeth (2) and servant Ann Heath (11). Jane is recorded as being daughter but William and Mary Jane did not have a daughter registered with that name, there is a Jane Barnett born 1864 with the mother's maiden name being Adams, Jane does not appear on any subsequent census living with the Barnett family.

The 1881 census shows the Barnett family living at 7 Newport Street, Burslem, Staffordshire, William (41) Pottery Warehouse worker, Mary Jane (38), William (18), George (14), Elizabeth (12), Emma (10), Leonard (6), John (4) and baby Fred.

The 1891 census shows William (52), Mary Jane (48), Emma (19) Potters presser, Leonard (16) an apprentice Mould Maker, John A (13), Fred (9), Gertrude (7), Minnie (4) and nephew Samuel Wilson (11). living at 167 Newport Street, Burslem.

The 1901 census shows widowed Mary Jane (57) living at 75 Newcastle Street, Burslem with grown children John (22) Sanitary Presser, Fred (20) Potter Printer, Gertrude (17) Paintress, Minnie (15) Sponger, boarding with them Samuel Wilson (21) Samuel Hope (45), George Barlow (23).

Fred Barnett married Elizabeth Ashworth (17.11.1879) on the 13th October 1901 at St Johns Church, Burslem, Staffordshire. 

The 1911 census shows Fred and Elizabeth living at 77 Albert Street, Burslem, having been married for nearly 10 years, having had four children, Fred born 1902 died 1904, Maud born 1904, Minnie born 1906 and Thomas born 1909 died 1909, sadly only Maud and Minnie were alive by 1911, Fred was working as a Potter Presser and Elizabeth as Potter Sponger.

By 1913 Minnie had died aged 7 and they had another son William Henry born 4.08.1913. 

Little is known about Fred’s military service. He had earned the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. The very fact he earned the 14-15 Star indicates that he was serving in an operational theatre prior to the 1st January 1916. In fact we can see from his WW1 Medal Index Card that he entered France on the 28th September 1915. Not long after on the 3rd January 1916 he was killed in action. The battalion war diary tells us the 10th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers where if trenches at Dickebusch, South of Ypres on and during the days preceding his death. Here the battalion war diary throws up an anomaly in that it very clearly names him having been killed on the 2nd of January 1916 whilst with ‘D’ Company. However all other sources recorded after the diary provide the date as the 3rd January 1916.

WW1 pension cards provide his next of kin as his wife, Elizabeth who is awarded a widows pension of 21 shillings per week from 31st July 1916. Her given address is either 17A or 19A Pitt Street, Burslem depending on which card is examined. The pension award was subsequently increased to 28 shillings and 8 pennies per week from 3rd September 1919.

The sentinel newspaper reported on the 15th March 1916. 

STAFFORDSHIRE CASUALTIES.

The following Staffordshire casualties in various regiments are reported to-day-

KILLED IN ACTION.

PTE. F. BARNETT, BURSLEM.

Mrs. E. Barnett. of 19, Pitt Street, Burslem. has received official information that her husband. Pte. Fred Barnett, 23452. Royal Welsh Fusiliers, was killed in action on January 3rd. Prior to the war he was employed by Messrs. Doulton, Burslem.

The sentinel newspaper January 3rd 1917.

IN MEMORIAM.

BARNETT. In loving memory of Frederick Barnett, of Burslem, who was killed in action January 3rd. 1916.

Ever, remembered by his Brother Len and Emmie.

Fred is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial panel 22, his body either never recovered or identified. 

He is also remembered on the Royal Doulton Kilngate Memorial.

The 1921 census shows widowed Elizabeth working as a Teapot Batter living at 35 Waterloo Road, Burslem with Daughter Maud (17) Pottery Worker and sons William Henry (7) and Stanley John Barnett (3years 6 month) Stanley John being born in December 1917 his birth certificate does not give name of father.

The 1939 register sees Elizabeth Barnett (60) living at 66 Pit Street, Burslem, Staffordshire with her son William Henry Barnett (26) working as a General Labourer. 

Maud Barnett married Ernest Gater in 1925 and in 1939 they were living at 19 Pitt Street, Burslem, Staffordshire with Children Irene born 13.03.1926, May E born 1931 and Frederic born 22.09.1934. 

Stanley John Barnett (10 December 1917) had married Evelyn Parker (17 Oct 1918) in 1939 and they lived at 63 Brindley Street, Stanley working as a Teapot Jollier (heavy worker) and Evelyn a Teapot Fettler.

Sources

https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=IemjSREHXx8%2BkInypRpuIw&scan=1.

Ancestry.com. England, Select Marriages, 1538-1973 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.

The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911.

Western Front Association; London, England; WWI Pension Record Cards and Ledgers; Reference: 018/0051/Bar-Bra. 

https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/file/668225978?terms=23458%2Cfred%2Cbarnett. 

https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/file/689911384?terms=23458%2Cfred%2Cbarnet.

https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/record/736122002/barnett-fred-uk-nominal-index-of-all-service-personnel-serving-in-a-theatre-of-war-1914-1919.

https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/record/735723025/barnett-fred-uk-soldiers-died-in-the-great-war-1914-1919.

https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/image/323174857/barnett-fred-page-15-uk-wwi-british-army-medal-roll-index-cards-1914-1920?terms=23458%2Cfred%2Cbarnett.

https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/sub-image/619505753/barnett-fred-uk-british-army-registers-of-soldiers-effects-1901-1929?terms=23458%2Cfred%2Cbarnett.

https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000347/19160315/091/0004.

https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000347/19170102/068/0003.

The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; 1921 Census Returns; Reference: RG 15/12633, ED 19, Sch 293; Book: 12633.

The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1939 Register; Reference: RG 101/5283I. 

ANCESTRY MEDAL AWARD ROLL 1914-15 STAR.

ANCESTRY MEDAL AWARD ROLL BWM AND VM.

NATIONAL ARCHIVES WAR DIARIES WO95/1436/2.