WILLIAM RAYMOND BARNETT (1905-1907 : 26), Second Lieutenant in the 5th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment, was the son of Mr & Mrs H R Barnett of Copthorne Road, Wolverhampton.  On leaving school he entered Lloyd’s Bank and as soon as war broke out he joined many of his old schoolfellows in enlisting in the 6th Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment.  After training at Penn Court he went to France in February 1915 and was in the midst of much severe fighting until in December he was wounded.  In the following July he had returned to his duties and bore his part in the long battle of the Somme to such purpose that he was selected for commissioned rank.  A period of training at Cambridge led to his being gazetted to the 8th Battalion of his regiment, and he again took part in hard fighting, for a time in command of a company.  Later he was transferred to the 5th Battalion, and it was on April 29 1918, that, in charge of his platoon, he was ordered to recover a position of great tactical value known as ‘Route A Keep’.  The attack was completely successful but the gallant leader was killed at the head of his men.  The feat earned the distinction of mention in the Orders of the Day, and the following letter – one of many – testifies to the high opinion formed of Barnett as an officer and a man.  "Dear Sir – I desire to offer you my most sincere sympathy regarding the death of your son, 2nd Lieutenant W R Barnett, 1/5 South Staffords, who was killed at the head of his platoon on the 29th April, when, in conjunction with other troops, his platoon retook a post that had been lost, resulting in the capture of 54 Germans and 5 machine guns – an enterprise which was mentioned in the official communiqué of the day.  His brigadier tells me he was a most gallant, lion-hearted boy, and a very promising officer.  That he died doing his duty in such circumstances must be some consolation to you – we are proud of his memory in the Division.  His body was recovered and he was buried in the British military cemetery at Beuvry.  Yours truly, Wm Thwaites, Major General, Headquarters, 49th  Division B.E.F., 2nd May 1918”.