Duncan Cenotaph

As part of our project to document the names on the Duncan Cenotaph in Charles Hoey Park, here is a page about Captain Lasselles de Barry Barnett, who was killed in action 3 July 1916, aged 37, while serving at the Somme with the Royal West Kents. He is buried in Serre Road Cemetery No. 2 in France.

Here is the local Cowichan Leader newspaper report of the death of

“Capt. L. de B. Barnett

A cable despatch from London dated July 11th states that “Lieut. Lasselles Barnett, of the West Kents, aged 37, is officially reported killed in action. He lived in B.C. for some time.”

It is feared that this bears reference to Lasselles de Barry Barnett who, after living at Somenos Lake, where he had a chicken farm, for some five or six years, enlisted on the outbreak of war with the 88th Regt. being posted to the machine gun section. He went from Valcartier with E. Co. of the 7th B., C.E.F., and, after arriving in England, was given a commission in the Royal West Kents. He [illegible in record] in a volunteer battalion in the regiment. With them [illegible in record] and some months ago it was reported that he had attained to the rank of captain.

He was unmarried and his family are at Blackheath, England. His death, if authentic, will be mourned by many friends still in Cowichan.”

Captain Lasselles de Barry Barnett was killed at the Somme on 3 July 1916 and is buried in Serre Road Cemetery No. 2 in France.

(Source: Cowichan Leader, 20 July 1916, from Cowichan Valley Museum & Archives files)

Here are some links to sites with more information of Lasselles de Barry Barnett:

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