Leonard Barnett was born on 9th July 1898 at 13 Riley Street, Burslem, Staffordshire. He was baptised on the 7th August 1898 at St Paul's Church, Burslem. His parents were Leonard Barnett, born 1874 at Burslem, and Emily nee Cliff, born 15.12.1871 at Burslem. Leonard and Emily were married at St Paul's Church, Burslem, in 1894, and they would have 5 children: Leonard, Joseph, born 17.05.1896, Clyde, born 26.02.1901, Frank, born 28.03.1908, and Mary, born 10.01.1914.

The 1901 Census shows Leonard aged 3 living with his family at 20 Blake Street, Burslem. Leonard, a senior aged 28, was employed as a Potter's Mould Maker. Emily, aged 28, Joseph, 5, and Clyde, 2.

The 1911 Census now shows the family living at 13 Dimsdale View, Porthill. Leonard (38), a Potters Mould Maker, Emily (39) on Home Duties, recorded as being married for 18 years with four out of seven surviving children, Joseph (15), a Potters Handler, Leonard (13), Clyde (11), and Frank (3).

Leonard enlisted with the Derbyshire Yeomanry on the 14th August 1916 as Private 76766. He gives his age as 18 years and occupation as a mould maker employed at Doultons, and his address as 34 Orford Street, Burslem. He is described as being 5’4” tall, with a fresh complexion, light brown hair, grey eyes, and a 33.5” chest with 2.5” expansion.

Leonard was medically examined on the 23rd February 1917 and mobilised on the 12th March 1917. He would travel to France on the 13th September 1917 and was posted to the 12th battalion Notts and Derby Regiment, but on the 29th was transferred to the 10th battalion. The next we hear of Leonard is that, aged 19, he died of wounds on the 2nd May 1918. On that date, the war diary says the battalion was in reserve at Englebelmer. Previous to this, during April, they had been involved in much fighting around the villages near Albert, where many men were listed as killed, wounded, and missing. 

WW1 pension cards inform us that his mother received a lifelong pension of 10 shillings and 6 pennies per week. Her address is Fernlea, 34 Orford Street, Longport.

Records show the following personal items were returned to his mother: letters, photographs, religious book, memo book, cards, case, scissors, birth certificate, dictionary, Army attestation/enlistment forms AFW 3191,3194 and B2512.

Several Staffordshire Sentinel articles report the death of Leonard, and subsequently, later articles appear in memory of him. It is also confirmed that before service, he was employed at Royal Doulton.

Mr. and Mrs. L. Barnett, Fernlea, 34. Orford-Street, Wolstanton, has received official news that their son, Pte. Leonard Barnett. Notts and Derby Regiment has died of wounds received in action. He was 19 years of age, and before his enlistment was employed by Messrs, Doulton and Co., Nile-street, Burslem. His brother. Bombdr. J. W. Barnett has been on active service for three years and five months.

The newspaper reported Leonard's brother J W Barnett as having served as Bombdr. Most likely being Gunner Joseph William Barnett 83325 of the Royal Field Artillary. From his Medal Index, we can see J W Barnett entered into the theatre of war in France on 24.07.15, thus earning him the 1915 Star, the British War Medal, and the Victory Medal.   

The Sentinel newspaper dated 22nd January 1915.  

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. -Four members (J. Barnett, P. Turner, R. Scott, and J. Malbon) of the young men's class held in connection with the Wolstanton Congregational Church have enlisted in the R.F.A. as gunners. They left for Glasgow on Thursday morning. The pastor, the Rev. Albert Rhodes, the Sunday school superintendent, and secretary, together with parents and friends, were present to give them a send-off at Longport station. Another member of the class, Clyde King, is at present in training at Butterton with the North Staffords, making five who have joined the colours out of a class of twelve.

IN MEMORIAM.

BARNETT.-In loving memory of Pte. Leonard Barnett, of the 10th Batt. Notts and Derby, who died of wounds on May 2nd, 1918, at No. 12 General Hospital. Rouen, dearly beloved son of Leonard and Emily Barnett, of Fernlea, 39, Orford-Street, Longport, aged 19 years.

Far away, in the beautiful west, He has gone to contentment and rest; And his toils of the day are all charmed away, Rest. Dear son, in thy little grey grave in the west.

Badly missed by his sorrowing Mother. Father, brothers Joe, Clyde, and Frank, and sister Mary.

BARNETT.-In loving memory of Pte. Leonard Barnett. Late of Orford Street, Porthill, who died of wounds on 2nd May, 1918.

Fondly remembered by Aunt Gertie and Uncle Fred.

BARNETT.--In loving memory of Pte. Leonard Barnett Notts and Derby Regt., who died of wounds received in action, in France, May 1918, late of Orford-Street, Longport.

"Thy will be done." Fondly remembered by Miss Tittensor and Family, of Springfield House, Talke Road.

He is buried in the St Sever Cemetery Extension at Rouen in plot number P.X1.M.2A.

He is remembered on the Royal Doulton Kilngate Memorial.

Leonard earned the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

The 1921 census shows the Barnett family: Leonard Barnett (48), a Potter's Mould Maker, Emily (49), Joseph William (25), a Doulton Mould Maker, Clyde (20), a Doulton Mould Maker, Frank (13), and Mary(7) living at 34 Orford Street, Porthill. 

Leonard Barnett died on 14.04.1931, aged 56. 

The 1939 register sees Joseph William Barnett having married Florence Tittensor in 1922, living at 12 Highfield Avenue, Newcastle Under Lyme, working as a Foreman Potter Mould Maker, children Irene born 1924 and Jean born 1925.

Clyde Barnett married Gertrude Byrne in 1924, and in 1939 they were living at 6 Edward Street, Newcastle Under Lyme, Clyde working as a Potter Mould Maker. Children: Leonard born 1925, Neville J born 1934, further children born 1947, Carole A and Dennis M born 1950.  

Frank Barnett married Nellie Washington in 1933, and in the 1939 register they are living at 40 Edward Street, Newcastle Under Lyme, Frank working as a Potter Mould Maker, children Marjorie born 1935, Victor born 1936, further children Frank born 1943.

Younger sister Mary married Dennis W G Turner in 1939 and can be found on the 1939 register living at 25 Boulton Street, Newcastle Under Lyme, Dennis (19.12.1913) working as an Insurance Agent, Mary (10.01.1914) Unpaid House Duties, and Mary Barnett (15.12.1871).     

Emily Barnett died on 9th February 1940, aged 68 years. 

It is noticed that Leonard's headstone is placed directly next to that of 350387 Pte George Henry Crudgeington MM. 7th Battalion London Regiment. This indicates that two bodies lay in the same grave. Crudgeingtons' Military Medal award appears in the London Gazette of March 1918. He was born in Bethnal Green on the 22nd June 1897 and died of wounds in the 5th General Hospital, Rouen on the 1st May 1918.  

SOURCES

• Ancestry.com. England, Select Marriages, 1538-1973 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
• Ancestry.com. England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
• 1901 census Class: RG13; Piece: 2593; Folio: 107; Page: 12
• 1911 census The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
• Military-Genealogy.com, comp. UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008.
• Commonwealth War Graves Commission; Author: Peter Singlehurst; Series Title: British Commonwealth War Graves Registers, 1914-1918; Archive Name: London, United Kingdom
• National Army Museum; Chelsea, London, England; Soldiers' Effects Records, 1901-60; NAM Accession Number: 1991-02-333; Record Number Ranges: 707501-709000; Reference: 423
• FreeBMD. England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.
• Western Front Association; London, England; WWI Pension Record Cards and Ledgers; Reference: 018/0051/Bar-Bra
• Army Medal Office (In the Care of the Western Front Association Website); London, England; WWI Medal Index Cards
• The National Archives; London, England, UK; War Office: Soldiers' Documents, First World War Wo363
• May 1918 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000347/19180509/075/0004 
• May 1919 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000347/19190502/051/0003
• May 1920 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000347/19200503/063/0003
• NATIONAL ARCHIVES WAR DIARIES WO95/2008/2
• J.W.Barnett marriage https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=7ashJGggeGXaac7urgESKA&scan=1 
• Clyde Barnett marriage https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=La5664WL0FT4vSVd%2BBXdwA&scan=1
• Frank Barnett's marriage https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=PoJwue2UC6e8XAL2ZJYtvQ&scan=1
• The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1939 Register; Reference: RG 101/5407F 
• Emily Barnett's death, Principal Probate Registry, London, England; Calendar of the Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration made in the Probate Registries of the High Court of Justice in England.