Biography:
Reginald Walter Barnett was born 11 May 1892, the son of Walter and Rose Barnett of Bilton Hall, Rugby.
He came to Winchester College from Mr Hawtrey's school at Westgate-on-Sea in September 1905. He was a Commoner Prefect, progressed to Sixth Book, and played in Commoner VI in 1909 and 1910. The Wykehamist of November 1918 says 'his six years here were a record of cheery and most unselfish devotion; and with his remarkably sane and equable nature he proved himself both the salt and the peacemaker of his generation in the House'.
Reginald left Winchester in the summer of 1911 for Pembroke College, Cambridge to study mechanical sciences and was awarded his BA in 1914.
He volunteered at the beginning of the war and was gazetted to The King's Royal Rifle Corps. He went to France in July 1915 with the 11th Battalion, and after several months as Adjutant was selected for promotion to the staff and appointed Brigade Major to the 189th (Royal Naval) Brigade. He remained with them till March 1918, when he was invalided home with gas-poisoning. On his return to France he was appointed G.S.O., second grade, to the 6th Division: he won the M.C. and a Bar, was mentioned in Despatches and once wounded.
He was killed by a sniper on the morning of 12 August 1918 while escorting a Sergeant of the US 27th Division on a visit to the front line at an advanced post near Hooge and was buried in the cemetery at Abeele.