Private Barnes served with the 2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters during the Tirah Campaign of 1897-88 in what is now modern day Pakistan in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.  

Following the outbreak of the Boer War Private Barnes would go on to serve with the 1st Battalion, joining them at Rustenburg, South Africa, on the 8th of April 1902. 

For his services he was awarded the Indian General Service Medal with clasps Tirah 1897-98 and Punjab Frontier 1897-98. He was also awarded the Queen’s South Africa Medal with clasps South Africa 1902, Transvaal, and Cape Colony.