Orders, Decorations and Medals

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (H. W. Barling, Sto. H.M.S. Forte) small impressed naming, nearly extremely fine £200-240

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Boer War Medals to the Royal Navy.

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Henry William Barling was born in Maidstone, Kent on 15 January 1875. A Labourer by occupation he enlisted into the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class in December 1895. He was advanced to Stoker when on the Repulse in November 1896. He served on the 2nd class cruiser Forte during April 1899-May 1902, being promoted to Leading Stoker 2nd Class in January 1901. Whilst on the ship he qualified for the Queen’s medal without clasp for his service in the Boer War (415 awarded). Barling was further advanced to Leading Stoker 1st Class when based at Pembroke II in May 1902, Stoker Petty Officer when on the Wildfire in July 1906, Acting Chief Stoker when on the Hecla in July 1912 and Chief Stoker when on the Vanguard in July 1913. In July 1914 he was drafted to the armoured cruiser Aboukir. He was killed in action on 22 September 1914 when the Aboukir in company with her sister ships, the Cressy and Hogue, was sunk by German submarine U.9 in the North Sea. His name is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial. He was the son of Henry William Barling of 10 Lansdown Road, Tonbridge, Kent and husband of Frances M. Barling of 3 Causier Road, Mile Town, Sheerness, Kent. Sold with copied service paper.