Notebook carried by John Barnard during his service in France (2)

In the notebook are the names of friends killed or wounded, as well as a code agreed with his sister, Cecilia, who he wrote to showing where he was serving, and even when he had gone over the top. John Barnard only ever wrote home to his sister Cecilia, never to their mother. Cecilia would then filter the news to their mother.

Mike Barnard, John's son, recalls that "Dad, as a market gardener, was used to walking the soil. The terrain he encountered 'over there' was familiar, and he knew where the dips should be, even if he'd never been over that land before."

"Whilst acting as a runner Dad met a mate from Worcestershire, George Crisp M.M.. George told him which way to go to avoid some Germans, this probably saved his life."

"Dad also met Capt. George Mason, he was actually courting Dad's sister Cecilia, and they chatted. George was killed just a week later. A memorial window was placed in the church at Wickhamford. Cecilia never married. When she died aged 99 in her bed, we found all George's letters lying under her pillow."

John had training in Catterick etc. and 18 months in France.

Part of a collection relating to Lance Corporal John Barnard (52258 Worcestershire regiment), market gardener of Badsey near Evesham; and his son Mike's drawings and newspaper articles relating to the First World War.

本手札中记载了阵亡与负伤友人的姓名，同时收录了他与妹妹塞西莉亚（Cecilia）约定的通讯密码：他曾致信塞西莉亚告知自身服役位置，甚至提及自己发起冲锋的具体时机。约翰·巴纳德（John Barnard）仅会给妹妹塞西莉亚写信报平安，从不直接致信母亲，之后由塞西莉亚向母亲转述经过筛选的前线消息。

约翰之子迈克·巴纳德（Mike Barnard）回忆道：“父亲生前以种菜为业，惯常在田间劳作跋涉。即便从未踏足前线阵地，他对当地的地形却颇为熟悉，能准确预判低洼地带的位置。”

“担任传令兵期间，父亲结识了一位来自伍斯特郡的战友乔治·克里斯普（George Crisp，军功勋章（Military Medal，M.M.）得主）。乔治曾为父亲指明避开德军的路线，此举大概率挽救了父亲的性命。”

“父亲还曾结识乔治·梅森上尉（Capt. George Mason），彼时乔治正与父亲的妹妹塞西莉亚交往，二人相谈甚欢。仅仅一周后，乔治便阵亡。威克汉姆福德（Wickhamford）的教堂为此设立了纪念玻璃窗。塞西莉亚终身未嫁，直至99岁临终卧床时，家人们才在她的枕头下发现了乔治写给她的全部信件。”

约翰曾在卡特勒克（Catterick）等地接受军事训练，随后在法国前线服役十八个月。

本史料合集包含与一等兵（Lance Corporal）约翰·巴纳德（编号52258，隶属于伍斯特郡团）相关的内容，巴纳德生前是埃文河畔伊夫舍姆附近巴兹西镇的菜农；此外还收录了其子迈克创作的一战题材画作及相关报纸剪报。