Lawrence Eugene Barnes enlisted with the 48th Highlanders in Toronto in early 1940. He gave his name as R. Burton when enlisting. His service number B73634 was one more than B73633 E. W. Burton suggesting that Barnes enlisted with, or just behind, E. W. Burton and used his name to conceal his own. Pte Burton trained at 1 CITC and was SOS 10 May 1940 to overseas leaving Halifax on 12 May and disembarking in Liverpool on 22 May to join the 1st Battalion, 48th Highlanders. Records show him with the battalion in March 41 and again in November 1942. Burton was promoted L/Cpl in February 1942 and A/Cpl on 4 May. On 28 June 1943, with the battalion, he embarked in Gourock, Scotland for the landing on the beaches at Pachino, Sicily on 10 July 1943 and the Sicilian Campaign. He was promoted A/Sgt on 11 September while the battalion was in Italy, chasing the Germans toward the Adriatic Coast. He reverted to Cpl on 2 October as the battalion began its advance through the Abruzzi Hills to Volturara. The reversion was as he was ill (likely malaria contracted in Sicily). He returned to the battalion in the Arielli River area on 23 January 1944. Cpl Burton was with the battalion for the Liri Valley advance in May 1944 and the breaching of the Hitler Line at Pontecorvo on 22/23 May. With the battalion subsequently at rest at Piedmonte d’Alife he was made L/Sgt. On 20 August, with the battalion preparing to assault the Gothic Line, Burton was sent to hospital, returning on 26 September at a rest camp, Miramar, near Rimini. He was made L/Sgt again on 22 September.

In October, Burton stated that his correct name was Barnes, Lawrence Eugene. He participated in the Lamone River crossing on 10 December and the period in the Ravenna marshes. With the battalion again at rest and preparing to leave Italy for the Netherlands he was charged and convicted on 19 February 1945 with the “improper possession of a military vehicle”, sentenced to 1 year’s detention an struck off strength to the X-2 list (Soldiers under sentence of detention) on admission to 1 Cdn Det & FP Barracks.