Christopher Henry Alexander Barnes was born on 28th May 1912 in Worksop. His father was Christopher Chevallier Barnes (1873 – 1940) who was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Royal Artillery, and his mother Mary Elizabeth Barnes (nee Robinson).

Christopher was listed in the 1921 Census as being at Grove Park Preparatory School in Crowborough, Sussex before being taught at Eton until 1930.

At age 19, Christopher was commissioned into the Royal Artillery as a Second Lieutenant on 28th January 1932 and attached to 29 Field Company, Royal Artillery stationed at Bordon in Hampshire.

In October 1933, Christopher had a near miss where he was found unconscious lying in the wreckage of his car which had hit a telegraph post on the Farnham – Bordon Road. The newspaper (London Evening News) report stated that Christopher was returning to barracks after attending a dance and head received severe lacerations to his hands and legs. He was transported to Cambridge Military Hospital where his condition was stated to be “fair”.

Christopher appeared to do a stint with the Royal Artillery in India for which he was awarded the Indian General Service Medal. He also appears to have found time to take part in horse-racing, often taking part in the Peshawar Vale Hunt (a club that still exists today) with his horses named “Richard” and “Knock-Out”.

It is not known when Christopher joined the 111th Field Regiment, but he was with them from June 1942 when they shipped out from Scotland to Egypt via South Africa (pictured here in Durban).

In May 1943, following the death of Lt. Col W. R. Hobbs MBE RA on the 12th, Christopher was temporarily promoted from the rank of Major to Lieutenant-Colonel and given command of the 111th Field Regiment until 3rd June when Lt. Col J. A. Norman took command.

On 12th August 1943, the day after landing on Sicily, Lt. Col J. A. Norman was posted to 3rd R.H.A Regt. and Christopher took cover command of 111th Field Regt once again until 23rd August when the regiment was joined by Lt. Col. J. S. Elliot.