DOB/DOD: December 8, 1917 (Lime Rock, CT) – December 18, 2009 (Laconia, NH); 92 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Married to Mary Ann Ainsworth (1924-2001) on April 28, 1945, in Darien
CHILDREN: Two twin daughters, Susan N. Barnum Koprowski (1946-) and Sally Barnum Oak (1946-). Two sons, Peter (1950-) and Seth (1952-).
ENLISTMENT: December 29, 1941
SERVICE NUMBERS: 11040832 (enlisted) and O-1312470 (officer)
UNIT: 80th Infantry Division
FAMILY: Born to Richard N. (1876-1929) and Marion H. Cocks Barnum (1879-1967). Two brothers, John C. (1901-1972) and Richard N. Jr. (1910-1979). One sister, Eleanor Barnum Walbridge (1905-1998).
OTHER: Attended Yale University, Class of ’39.
POW CAMP: Held at Oflag 64 or 21B Schubin (Moved to Usedom) Poland, Altburgund 53-17.
From wikitree.com: Worked for the Cortere Company (Distilled and Blended Liquors), lived in Cazenovia, NY, and also had a home in New Hampshire, where he died on December 18, 2009. From the time of his death until his burial, his ashes sat on the mantle in the home of his daughter, Sally Barnum Oak. He was buried July 18, 2012, in the Barnum family plot in Lime Rock, Connecticut. A color guard was provided because of his military service and time as a POW in Germany during WWII.
From The Norwalk Hour March 13, 1945
A two-month period of anxiety during which she had no word from her son, Lieutenant William H. “Bus” Barnum, a prisoner of war in Germany, was pleasantly broken on Saturday for Mrs. Marian C. Barnum of Flax Hill Road, Norwalk-Darien town line when she received a War Department telegram telling of his release from a prisoner of war camp. The telegram sent by Adjutant General John A. Ulio contained the meager but happy information that word of the release had been received from the United States Military Mission in Moscow. It is believed here that Lieutenant Barnum’s camp was taken by the Russians in their drive toward Berlin. Mrs. Barnum immediately forwarded a cable to her son and is awaiting details. She had been particularly worried for her son had been moved from two camps within recent months, and she had not been notified of his latest address. Lieutenant Barnum was reported as missing in action in France on September 13, but a few weeks later, his mother was notified by the War Department that he was a prisoner of war in Germany. He enlisted in the Army as a private at the time of Pearl Harbor, 1941 later entered Officers’ Training School, from where he was commissioned a lieutenant. He went overseas in the summer of 1944.
Extract from The Norwalk Hour April 11, 1945
A family in Norwalk is anticipating a happy reunion this weekend with a son in the service who this week returned from Europe, where they were recently liberated from a German prisoner-of-war camp by the advancing Russians. Lieutenant William H. Barnum, son of Mrs. Marian C. Barnum of Flax Hill Road, Norwalk-Darien town line. He is now at the Boston Port of Embarkation and is expected home on Friday. Lieutenant Barnum wanted to know whether the circus had opened yet. On landing in Boston, he immediately sent a telegram to his mother, telling her how happy they are to be back in the “good old U.S.A.”
From The Post Oflag 64 Item newsletter, 1st Quarter 2020
Meredith, NH. – William H. “Bus” Barnum III, 92, passed away Friday, December 18, 2009, at Lakes Region General Hospital in Laconia, New Hampshire. William was born in Lime Rock, Connecticut on December 8, 1917, the son of Richard Nicholls Barnum and Marion (Cocks) Barnum. He was a graduate of Milford Academy and Kent School in Kent, CT (where he remained an active alumnus for many years). He also attended Yale University, where he remained active on the Executive Committee for many years. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and proudly served his country during World War II as a 1st Lieutenant. Captured and held POW at OFLAG 64 in Germany, he escaped to freedom with his comrades in February 1945. Mr. Barnum was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, the Bronze Star, the POW medal, and three Battle Stars. In 1946, he married his life-long partner, Mary Ann “Sis” (Ainsworth) Barnum. They resided in Redding, CT, for many years, where he was a Warden of Christ Episcopal Church, a member of the Board of Education, director and football coach of the Redding Boys Club, and Chairman of the Enrollment and Scholarship Committee of the Yale Club of Eastern Fairfield County. For 41 years, the Barnums resided in Cazenovia, New York, where, in addition to many dear friends, Bus enjoyed a successful career with National Distillers and Chemical Corporation as Sales Manager for upstate New York. During his years in Cazenovia, he was a member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church and the Cazenovia Club. Surviving him are his loving wife of 63 years, Mary Ann; two daughters, Susan (Mike) Koprowski of
Boulder, Colorado, Sally (Reginald) Oak of Orleans, Massachusetts; two sons, Peter (Joan) Barnum of Holderness, New Hampshire and Seth (Sherry) Barnum of Halfmoon, New York; 8 grandchildren, Seth Barnum, Sam Barnum, Faith Barnum, Whitney Koprowski, Brion Koprowski, Brittany Phillips, Andrea Cooper and Sarah Barnum. He is survived by many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, two brothers, Richard and John Barnum, and one sister, Eleanor (Barnum) Walbridge. The family wishes to sincerely thank the entire staff of Forestview Manor Assisted Living Facility in Meredith, New Hampshire, for the exceptional and loving care provided to “Bus” (and his wife, Mary Ann), where he enjoyed the last three years of his life. Private burial services in Lime Rock, Connecticut, will be held at a later date. Memorial donations, in his name, may be made to the Kent School Alumni Fund, Kent School, Kent
CT 06757.
Burial is in the family plot in Lime Rock Cemetery, 484 Lime Rock Road (Rt 112), Salisbury, Connecticut. Barnum family plot close to the road.
END
Honor Norwalk CT veterans 