| LIEUTENANT CHARLES GABRIEL ALFRED BARNES |
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| 2ND DRAGOON GUARDS |
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Charles Gabriel Alfred Barnes was born in 1835, the son of Christopher
Hewetson Barnes (1802-1875), a surgeon and Fellow of the Royal College of
Surgeons, and his wife Elizabeth. Charles was born in Colchester, Essex and
baptized on the 28th of August 1835 at St. Mary the Virgin at the Walls,
Colchester.
Charles was granted a commission as an Ensign in the West Essex Militia on the
6th of January, 1855, signed by the Lord Lieutenant of the County of Essex.
He was promoted Lieutenant in that Regiment on the 12th of June, 1855.
Lieutenant Barnes transferred from the West Essex Militia to an Ensigncy in
the 31st Foot on the 8th of January, 1856. At the time, service in the Militia
was a popular “backdoor” way for a young gentleman to obtain a commission in
the Army without the high cost of purchasing one. Ensign Barnes subsequently
transferred from the 31st Foot to the 2nd Dragoon Guards (the Queen’s Bays)
as a Cornet on the 14th of August, 1857.
The Indian Mutiny having begun in May of 1857, the 2nd Dragoon Guards were
ordered to India due to the desperate need for additional cavalry to suppress
the rebellion. While a majority of the officers and men of the 2nd Dragoon
Guards served in the final reduction of the city of Lucknow and participated
in the cavalry charge at Lucknow for which the regiment is famous, a small
portion of the regiment saw action elsewhere in India and received the medal
without clasp. The medals to many of these men, when their actual service is
analyzed, are no less worthy of respect than those of their colleagues who
served in the more glamorous and well-known action at Lucknow.
Hewetson Barnes (1802-1875), a surgeon and Fellow of the Royal College of
Surgeons, and his wife Elizabeth. Charles was born in Colchester, Essex and
baptized on the 28th of August 1835 at St. Mary the Virgin at the Walls,
Colchester.
Charles was granted a commission as an Ensign in the West Essex Militia on the
6th of January, 1855, signed by the Lord Lieutenant of the County of Essex.
He was promoted Lieutenant in that Regiment on the 12th of June, 1855.
Lieutenant Barnes transferred from the West Essex Militia to an Ensigncy in
the 31st Foot on the 8th of January, 1856. At the time, service in the Militia
was a popular “backdoor” way for a young gentleman to obtain a commission in
the Army without the high cost of purchasing one. Ensign Barnes subsequently
transferred from the 31st Foot to the 2nd Dragoon Guards (the Queen’s Bays)
as a Cornet on the 14th of August, 1857.
The Indian Mutiny having begun in May of 1857, the 2nd Dragoon Guards were
ordered to India due to the desperate need for additional cavalry to suppress
the rebellion. While a majority of the officers and men of the 2nd Dragoon
Guards served in the final reduction of the city of Lucknow and participated
in the cavalry charge at Lucknow for which the regiment is famous, a small
portion of the regiment saw action elsewhere in India and received the medal
without clasp. The medals to many of these men, when their actual service is
analyzed, are no less worthy of respect than those of their colleagues who
served in the more glamorous and well-known action at Lucknow.
Charles’ War Services entry in Hart’s Army List states that “Lieutenant Barnes served in the Oude campaign of 1858-59,
including the affair of Dawah, and Trans-Gorga affairs at Bungaon and Newabghur.” His entry on the Indian Mutiny medal
roll is more specific in detailing the services which entitled him to the medal, to wit: “At Dawah near Newabgunge on the 12th
October 1858 under Brigadier Purnell.; 7 November 1858 at Dewah near Newabgunge under fire of the Enemy’s Picquet when
on Patrol in charge of Lieutenant Palmer Hodson’s Horse”. Charles received the Indian Mutiny medal without clasp named to
him as a Cornet in the 2nd Dragoon Guards. It was the only campaign medal he was to receive.
Charles was promoted to Lieutenant in the 2nd Dragoon Guards without purchase on the 29th of March, 1859. This was to be
the high-water mark of Charles’ military career.
Charles Gabriel Alfred Barnes was given permission to retire from the Service by the sale of his commission on the 4th of
January, 1861. As the purchase price of a commission in the British Army, particularly one in a cavalry regiment, was
substantially in excess of the official rate, Charles no doubt realized a significant sum of money from the sale of his
commission.
As the 2nd Dragoon Guards were still stationed in India in January of 1861, Charles returned to London as a civilian. The
1861 census enumeration for England shows Charles in April of 1861 as living in London. He was unmarried and listed his
occupation as “Late 2nd Dragoon Guards retired”.
including the affair of Dawah, and Trans-Gorga affairs at Bungaon and Newabghur.” His entry on the Indian Mutiny medal
roll is more specific in detailing the services which entitled him to the medal, to wit: “At Dawah near Newabgunge on the 12th
October 1858 under Brigadier Purnell.; 7 November 1858 at Dewah near Newabgunge under fire of the Enemy’s Picquet when
on Patrol in charge of Lieutenant Palmer Hodson’s Horse”. Charles received the Indian Mutiny medal without clasp named to
him as a Cornet in the 2nd Dragoon Guards. It was the only campaign medal he was to receive.
Charles was promoted to Lieutenant in the 2nd Dragoon Guards without purchase on the 29th of March, 1859. This was to be
the high-water mark of Charles’ military career.
Charles Gabriel Alfred Barnes was given permission to retire from the Service by the sale of his commission on the 4th of
January, 1861. As the purchase price of a commission in the British Army, particularly one in a cavalry regiment, was
substantially in excess of the official rate, Charles no doubt realized a significant sum of money from the sale of his
commission.
As the 2nd Dragoon Guards were still stationed in India in January of 1861, Charles returned to London as a civilian. The
1861 census enumeration for England shows Charles in April of 1861 as living in London. He was unmarried and listed his
occupation as “Late 2nd Dragoon Guards retired”.
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On the 31st of May, 1861, a small article appeared in the Times stating the Mr. Charles Gabriel Alfred Barnes of Bellevue-house,
Notting Hill, an officer in the 2nd Dragoon Guards, was charged with violently assaulting Mr. Henry E. Rice, solicitor, of Howard-
villa, Thistle-grove, Brompton, at Cremorne-gardens. Mr. Rice, the complainant, agreed to an adjournment for the purpose of
producing a witness and Charles was placed on bond with the case being continued until the next session.
A further article appeared in the Times on the 28th of June, 1861, stating:
“Westminster- Mr. Charles Gabriel Alfred Barnes appeared for final examination, charged with committing, at Cremorne Gardens,
a very violent assault upon Mr. Henry Eldridge Rice, of Howard Villa, Thistle Grove, Brompton, solicitor.
At a former examination it was stated that on the night of the 29th ult. the accused intentionally knocked complainant’s pipe out
of his mouth and then struck him. The accused produced his cousin and brother in defense. The case was then adjourned. The
defendant should have appeared again on the 13th, but it was stated that he was suffering from severe inflammation of the lungs.
The clerk was about to read over the charges depositions, when Mr. Barnes said he was most anxious to say a few words before
any further proceeding took place. He was about to plead “Guilty” to the charge. He had had since his last appearance before
the magistrate a severe fit of illness, during which he had time to reflect upon his past misconduct, and form good resolutions for
the future. He not only now pleaded “Guilty,” but regretted having attempted to defend his past misconduct by having been led
foolishly to hope that he might be able to fight the case out successfully. On Monday last he had written a letter making a most
ample apology to Mr. Rice, but it had, as he had learnt, been unfortunately delayed in delivery until that morning; but he begged
now to reiterate, most publicly, his apology. The following is a copy of a letter he then handed to the Court:-
Bellville-house, Notting Hill, June 24.
“Sir,- I feel bound to offer you my expressions of the deepest regret at having assaulted you at Cremorne Gardens, and, though
this letter may appear rather late, I cannot refrain from thus addressing you. The only excuse I can fairly and honourably offer
you is, that from the excitement of a “Darby-day” increased by drinking more than usual, together with the bustle and pushing of
the crowd at the bar of the gardens, I unfortunately gave way to feelings and impulses which, in calmer moments, I never should
have done. Having thus expressed my regret, I beg to offer you any reasonable compensation for the unwarranted attack.
I remain, Sir, your obedient servant.
Henry Rice, Esq. Charles G. A. Barnes”
He was anxious to express in court his sincere regret, and trusted that under the circumstances he might be summarily and
leniently dealt with.
The solicitor for the prosecution said that the above letter had only been received that morning. As he was instructed, the
magistrate had made up his mind to send the case to the sessions, and there, with his permission, they would take it.
Mr. Ingham assessed, and the accused was committed for trial, bail being taken for his appearance.”
A final article appeared in the Times on the 5th of July, 1861:
Notting Hill, an officer in the 2nd Dragoon Guards, was charged with violently assaulting Mr. Henry E. Rice, solicitor, of Howard-
villa, Thistle-grove, Brompton, at Cremorne-gardens. Mr. Rice, the complainant, agreed to an adjournment for the purpose of
producing a witness and Charles was placed on bond with the case being continued until the next session.
A further article appeared in the Times on the 28th of June, 1861, stating:
“Westminster- Mr. Charles Gabriel Alfred Barnes appeared for final examination, charged with committing, at Cremorne Gardens,
a very violent assault upon Mr. Henry Eldridge Rice, of Howard Villa, Thistle Grove, Brompton, solicitor.
At a former examination it was stated that on the night of the 29th ult. the accused intentionally knocked complainant’s pipe out
of his mouth and then struck him. The accused produced his cousin and brother in defense. The case was then adjourned. The
defendant should have appeared again on the 13th, but it was stated that he was suffering from severe inflammation of the lungs.
The clerk was about to read over the charges depositions, when Mr. Barnes said he was most anxious to say a few words before
any further proceeding took place. He was about to plead “Guilty” to the charge. He had had since his last appearance before
the magistrate a severe fit of illness, during which he had time to reflect upon his past misconduct, and form good resolutions for
the future. He not only now pleaded “Guilty,” but regretted having attempted to defend his past misconduct by having been led
foolishly to hope that he might be able to fight the case out successfully. On Monday last he had written a letter making a most
ample apology to Mr. Rice, but it had, as he had learnt, been unfortunately delayed in delivery until that morning; but he begged
now to reiterate, most publicly, his apology. The following is a copy of a letter he then handed to the Court:-
Bellville-house, Notting Hill, June 24.
“Sir,- I feel bound to offer you my expressions of the deepest regret at having assaulted you at Cremorne Gardens, and, though
this letter may appear rather late, I cannot refrain from thus addressing you. The only excuse I can fairly and honourably offer
you is, that from the excitement of a “Darby-day” increased by drinking more than usual, together with the bustle and pushing of
the crowd at the bar of the gardens, I unfortunately gave way to feelings and impulses which, in calmer moments, I never should
have done. Having thus expressed my regret, I beg to offer you any reasonable compensation for the unwarranted attack.
I remain, Sir, your obedient servant.
Henry Rice, Esq. Charles G. A. Barnes”
He was anxious to express in court his sincere regret, and trusted that under the circumstances he might be summarily and
leniently dealt with.
The solicitor for the prosecution said that the above letter had only been received that morning. As he was instructed, the
magistrate had made up his mind to send the case to the sessions, and there, with his permission, they would take it.
Mr. Ingham assessed, and the accused was committed for trial, bail being taken for his appearance.”
A final article appeared in the Times on the 5th of July, 1861:
Whether this incident was
evidence of Charles’ true
character will never be
know. Charles Gabriel
Alfred Barnes, late
Lieutenant 2nd Dragoon
Guards, died in London
during the first quarter of
1868. He was 32 years old.
evidence of Charles’ true
character will never be
know. Charles Gabriel
Alfred Barnes, late
Lieutenant 2nd Dragoon
Guards, died in London
during the first quarter of
1868. He was 32 years old.