Private Robert James
Private Robert James “Jimmy” Barnes of the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada! The first two images are of Jimmy in England, and the last image he is the man kneeling in front of the sign and is the image that the story below mentions. This letter was published about Jimmy in the Liberty magazine in 1945 and said this about Jimmy “I am writing about the illustration of your January 6 editorial, as the story behind it seems to typify the attitude of so many of our boys overseas. In the foreground the picture, kneeling, is the boy who made and painted the sign, Pvt. Jimmy Barnes of Pitt River, British Columbia. He joined voluntarily at the beginning of the war, was sent overseas immediately; not particularly fond of the Army but sticking it out. He went through the London Blitz, etc., refusing promotions. Landed with the Seaforth’s in Sicily, fought with them till May 1944, was wounded and sent home in December. He evaded photographers and reporters all the way across Canada and came home as unheralded as he went, only with a maimed left hand as a souvenir. When he was wounded, the captain noticed him as he was being taken out. “What in the hell were you doing up there? Now who’s going to make our crosses?” he remarked. That is the little story. Not much, perhaps, just one small incident showing how our boys, thousands of them, quietly do their bit, evading fanfare or glory. Incidentally, meeting Jimmy for the first time one would think he was a tough hombre. -M.V. Germain”
Details:
Latitude: 49.2202789303110
Longitude: -122.69024223405
Direct Link: https://www.pittmeadowsmuseum.com/locations/private-robert-james
