BARNED
Died: Killed in a bomb blast at 64 Okehampton Crescent, Welling
Address / Local links: 64 Okehampton Crescent, Welling
Family / Relatives: Son of Jane Barned
Other Information: Single. A Plumber and Carpenter
October 13th 1940, at the height of the London Blitz, was the date Princess Elizabeth, The late Queen, made her first public speech with a radio address to the children of the Commonwealth, many of them living away from home due to war. Her younger sister, Princess Margaret, joined in at the end..
“We know, everyone of us, that in the end all will be well; for God will care for us and give us victory and peace. And when peace comes, remember it will be for us, the children of today, to make the world of tomorrow a better and happier place...”
Sadly, for one local resident, he was not to see this better and happier place, as he was one of the victims of the enemy bombing campaign.
Henry Barned was killed at 64 Okehampton Crescent, along with his sister Lilian Payne and her husband Sidney.
Henry was born in Woolwich, part of a large family raised by their widowed mother Jane, a needlewoman; records suggest that at one time Jane and 8 children were living in Plumstead “with only 3 rooms including kitchen”. The family later moved to 8 Maryon Road, Charlton, and in 1911 young Henry is listed as being a ‘newsboy’.
Henry and other family members must have moved to the Welling area before the war – Henry is recorded in 1939 as being single, living at 64 Okehampton Crescent with his sister and brother-in-law; he was a carpenter.
Tragically, all three were to die there in a bomb blast.
Poignantly, the Civilian Deaths Register lists some final details about Henry; RECORD OF CIVILIAN DEATHS (From Bexley Archives)
PARTICULARS PENDING IDENTIFICATION – “5ft 7ins tall, dark hair, hazel eyes, broad build”…”body identified by brother, G Barned”
INVENTORY OF PERSONAL EFFECTS – “1 pair chromium cufflinks, 1 pair armlets”
BURIED BY LOCAL AUTHORITY – Bexleyheath Cemetery October 22nd 1940.
Probate records show that in his will he left £211 7s 8d to John George William Barned, engineer, and Margaret Alice Blann (wife of Charles Blann)
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Other images are a Bexley Archives photograph of Okehampton Crescent, and of Bexleyheath Cemetery.
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If anyone is able to add any extra information, provide more family details, or suggest any corrections, please let us know – also, if anyone has any more photos of this individual listed on our memorials, please get in touch. Thank you.
Commemorated
- Bexleyheath War Memorial
- East Wickham and Welling War Memorial
- Bexleyheath Cemetery
- Bexley Municipal Borough Civilian Records
Links
This story has been researched by volunteers. We have taken every effort to ensure its accuracy. If you are related to Henry Phillip Thomas Barned, or if you have any further information, please do get in touch.