Frank Edwards Stanley Barnett

Frank on his wedding day

Frank was born at Catsfield on 10/05/1912, the son of Sidney and Ellen Dorinda Barnett nee Horn. His father was an agricultural worker and the family moved around following the work. Frank’s siblings, in order, were born in Barcombe, Catsfield, Sidley Bexhill, Storrington, Thakeham, Falmer and Scaynes Hill. By 1939 they were in Lingfield and by 1948 had moved to Edenbridge.

Frank married Edith Norah Simmons at St John’s on 29/05/1939 and they moved to live at 71 New Road. At the time Frank’s address was Malthouse Cottages, Cooksbridge. Edith had been born in Lewes in 1906. In 1911 her family lived at 2 Castle Terrace, New Road and Edith remained in this close local area all her life. By 1940 she and Frank were living at 3 Castle Terrace. Frank was working for C and C J Pannett builders who had premises on Eastergate Wharf. The 1939 register lists him as a builders labourer.

A son, also called Frank, was born in mid 1940 and Frank senior enlisted in the Royal Engineers as a sapper on 2nd July the same year. He was numbered 2113349 and sent for training. At this stage what happened next is unclear. Within three month of enlisting he was in Oxford Road Military Hospital in Reading where he died of an infection on 18/10/1940.

Gravestone in Lewes Cemetery

Frank was buried in Lewes Cemetery in Rotten Row in plot F grave 68 on 4th November. The service was taken by Rev Langhorne of St John sub Castro. He has a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone. He is also remembered on the St John sub Castro church Memorial and the Lewes town Memorial.