Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Crimea group of three awarded to Major-General R. D. Barrett, 19th Foot and 100th Foot, who was wounded in the trenches before Sebastopol, 31 October 1854, and was personally presented with his Crimea Medal by H.M. Queen Victoria, 18 May 1855

Crimea 1854-56, 4 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol (Capt. R. D. Barrett, 19th Regt. P.W.O.) privately impressed naming, with later replacement rivets, top lugs removed; Ottoman Empire, Order of the Medjidie, Fifth Class breast badge, silver, gold and enamel, unmarked; Turkish Crimea 1855, British issue, unnamed as issued, pierced with ring suspension as issued, all with ‘T. B. Bailey, Coventry’ top silver riband bars, contact marks, generally nearly very fine or better (3) £500-700

Richard Doyle Barrett was born in Youghal, Cork, Ireland, in February 1830, the son of Major Richard Barrett, late 19th Foot, and was commissioned Ensign, aged 16, in the West India Regiment in April 1846. He was promoted Lieutenant in April 1848, and exchanged to the 19th Foot in May 1852. He served with the 19th Foot during the Crimean campaign, and was present in the actions of Bulganac, Alma, Inkermann and the siege of Sebastopol (wounded by shell splinters, 31 October 1854). He was promoted Captain in December 1854, and on return from the Crimea was presented with his Crimea Medal by H.M. Queen Victoria, 18 May 1855.

Barrett was advanced to Lieutenant Colonel, and was given the command of the 2nd Battalion, 19th Foot in January 1878. He exchanged to the 100th Foot (subsequently the Leinster Regiment) in September 1880, and the Regimental History recorded his time with them thus, ‘The Commanding Officer was a fine soldier, very strict, rather hard but very just, always well turned out, yet he would sometimes carry an umbrella to shade his head when walking to the orderly room.’ Three years later he was appointed Commanding Officer of the 19th Regimental District (Richmond, Yorkshire), and retired with the rank of Honorary Major-General in December 1887. In later life Barrett turned his hand to inventing, and produced the ‘Barrett Valise Equipment’ and a new ‘Signaling Whistle’ for army use. He died at Blackheath, London, in April 1905.

Note: Two other Crimea medals are known to exist to this recipient including an officially impressed medal. Not entitled to ‘Balaklava’ clasp.

Sold with copied research, and several photographic images of recipient.