BX October 17, 1914
Private Arthur Frederick Barnes, Coldstream Guards, Died of Wounds on the Aisne
Chief of Police Slemin has received an official army postcard from ex-Constable John L. Cobden, of the local force, in which everything is crossed out except the words “I am well.” No indication is given of where the card was posted, the postmark being merely “Army Post Office.” Other word received here, however, from Cobden states that Pte. Barnes, who went from Brantford being on the reserve list, received a bullet in his thigh and another through his stomach, and was sent back to England to recuperate, he was shot while in the trench next to that in which Cobden was ensconced.
BX November 23, 1914
Brantford Reservist Among the Wounded – Constable Cobden Hit Twice – Constable Blanchard and Private Barnes, Who Also Went From This City, Are Missing and it is Feared They are Among the Slain
Indications point to Private Arthur F. Barnes and Constable John Blanchard, late of the Brantford police force as the first Brantford men to give their lives for King and Country, after having answered to duty’s call, while residents of this city.
Mrs. J.L. Cobden, wife of Constable John L. Cobden, Saturday night received a letter from her husband, who is in a base hospital, though which one was not given because the censor had blotted it out. He had been wounded in the head and fingers, the first wound almost duplicating that received by him from a revolver in the hands of Murray, the local colored man who ran amuck last Christmas. Blanchard, he stated, was missing after a big battle, presumably that of the Aisne, while Barnes, as had been previously reported, was very seriously wounded, and according to his knowledge, had passed away in the hospital after the fight.
Here Only Short Time
Private Barnes had been in this city for about a year only. He was a single man and had not been working steadily, owing to scanty employment. He had worked for a time with the Massey-Harris firm, and gave that firm as his place of employment when The Expositor secured the reservist names before their departure. He was an enlisted member of the 25th Brant Dragoons, and at the time of his departure resided on Foster Street. So far as is known, he had no relatives in this city, though he made many friends during his year’s residence here.
TS November 23, 1914
Toronto Policeman Killed on the Aisne – Two Other Reservists, Who Returned When War Broke out are Wounded
Information has been received by the Police Department that Arthur Frederick Barnes, former police officer, has been killed in an engagement on the banks of the Aisne, and that two other officers, John L. Cobden and James Blair, have been wounded in engagements. All three men were army reservists, and were called to the front with the first contingent.
Arthur Frederick Barnes joined the Toronto Police force November 17, 1909. He was 29 years of age and married. He spent three years with the colors in the first battalion Coldstream Guards and was an Englishman by birth. After some service in the Police Department, Barnes resigned to accept a higher position in the Hamilton police force. He had nine years in the reserves, and when the first call came left from Toronto with the first contingent.
