Charles Albert Barnes was born in London, England but was educated at Perth Grammar School, Western Australia. He worked as Chief Clerk at the Western Australian Trustee Company before the outbreak of the First World War. Barnes was 34 years old when he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 17 August 1914. He was assigned to the 11th Infantry Battalion and departed Fremantle, Western Australia aboard HMAT Ascanius on 2 November 1914. He was killed in action while serving in the Dardanelles on 28 April 1915. Charles Barnes is commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli.