Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Family group:

Seven: Company Sergeant Major A. E. Barker, The Buffs, later attached to the Malay Regiment serving with Ferret Force in Malaya 1948-49
India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Burma 1930-32 (6284102 Pte. A. E. Barker. The Buffs.); General Service 1918-62, 2 clasps, Palestine, Malaya, G.VI.R. (6284102. Cpl. A. E. Barker. The Buffs.) 2nd clasp loose on riband, as issued; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence & War Medals; Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (6284102 Col. Sjt. A. E. Barker. Buffs.) mounted for display, good very fine, rare

Pair: Mrs M. A. Barker, Auxiliary Territorial Service
Defence and War Medals 1939-45, in named card box of issue, with enclosure, addressed to ‘Mrs. A. E. Barker, 25 Cambredy Crescent, East Dene, Rotherham, Yorkshire’, nearly extremely fine (9) £700-£900

Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, March 2014.

Albert Edward Barker was born in December 1910, and attested for the Buffs in December 1928. He advanced to Lance-Corporal in June 1935, and was discharged to the Reserve in December 1949 (L.S. & G.C. Medal with Gratuity announced in AO 19/1948, as recorded in Barker’s Soldier’s Service & Pay Book by the Captain & Adjutant of Ferret Force).

Barker served as Quarter Master attached to the Malay Regiment, and served with Ferret Force, 1948-49. Ferret Force was formed in mid-1948 to act, as its title suggests, in the jungle against terrorist guerillas. It was composed of European civilians, British, Gurkha and Malay troops, backed up by Chinese liaison officers, and Dyak and Iban trackers from Sarawak. Each group would be split into four sections, commanded overall by a European who knew the area well and, more often than not, had a fund of invaluable local knowledge, sometimes even of jungle lore.

During its short period of existence, Ferret Force discovered twelve permanent guerilla camps and proved what even a scratch force could achieve. However, the force was expensive in manpower and not considered compatible with the growing military presence in that area of operation and was accordingly disbanded. Valuable lessons had been learnt and Ferret Force’s commander, Lt.-Colonel W. C. Walker, subsequently established a jungle warfare training establishment, later called the Jungle Warfare School, and many members of Ferret Force later joined the SAS in Malaya.

Having advanced to Company Sergeant Major, Barker was discharged from the Reserve in May 1953.

Sold with a good quantity of original documentation including Soldier’s Service & Pay Books, Certificate of Service, Soldier’s Release Book, several photographs including two of Barker with Ferret Force fighters in January and November 1949, and one of him and his wife - both in uniform.

Molly Alva Barker was born in Rotherham, Yorkshire, in July 1920, and enlisted in the Auxiliary Territorial Service in May 1940.