Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Warrant Officer Class II T. A. Barker, Parachute Regiment, late Royal Lincolnshire Regiment, who was Mentioned in Despatches for his services in Malaya, and was awarded a Queen’s Commendation for Brave Conduct for his gallantry in engaging and overcoming an armed terrorist at ‘Grenade Corner’, Sheikh Othman District, in Aden on 10 July 1966

General Service 1918-62, 2 clasps, Malaya, Arabian Peninsula, E.II.R., with M.I.D. oak leaf (22839202 Sgt. T. Barker. R. Lincolns); General Service 1962-2007, 4 clasps, Malay Peninsula, Borneo, South Arabia, Northern Ireland, with Q.C.B.C. oak leaf (22839202 Sgt. T. A. Barker. Para.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (22839202W.O. Cl.2. T. A. Barker. Para.) mounted court-style as worn; together with the recipient’s two identity discs, unofficial retaining rods between all clasps, nearly extremely fine (3) £1,800-£2,200

M.I.D. London Gazette 23 May 1958:
‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Malaya for the period 31 August to 31 December 1957.’

Q.C.B.C. London Gazette 6 December 1966:
‘On 10 July 1966, whilst returning in a vehicle with his Check Point Party to his Unit lines in Aden, Sergeant (acting Colour Sergeant) Barker observed a terrorist whom he had noted acting suspiciously throw a grenade. Firing three quick shots from his vehicle, he immediately ordered his party into action, and without due regard to his own personal safety gave chase through unsavoury Arab quarters. His cut off party, now in position, ordered the terrorist to halt, and failing to do so he was shot. Colour Sergeant Barker’s clear judgement and cool and courageous action undoubtedly saved casualties amongst his own men and was in the best tradition of his Regiment.’

The original Recommendation, dated 23 July 1966, states: ‘Acing Colour Sergeant Barker was commanding a Check Point Party of ten men in the district of Sheikh Othman. At 1205 hours on 10 July 1966, he and his party were returning to their unit lines in a 3 ton vehicle. Their route back passed through ‘Grenade Corner’ which is noted and notorious for its many terrorist attacks against the Security Forces.
As the vehicle drew level with a transformer building thirty yards north of ‘Grenade Corner’, Colour Sergeant Barker saw an Arab hiding behind the building. The Colour Sergeant thought the Arab was trying to extract the pin from a grenade. He closely kept the man under observation to ensure positively that the man was a terrorist grenade thrower and not an innocent bystander. When the terrorist threw the grenade, and the grenade was in the air, Colour Sergeant Barker ordered his party into anti-ambush drills; he cocked his weapon and fired three quick shots at the terrorist whilst the vehicle was still moving. He then dismounted and without regard to his personal safety chased the terrorist into a side street. He continued his pursuit, still without regard to possible terrorist attack to himself. He ordered the terrorist to halt in Arabic more than three times. His cut off party took up fire positions in the side street. Its commander Private Copson ordered the Colour Sergeant, who was still after the terrorist, to move out of the line of fire. When the terrorist did not halt he was shot with one round fired by Private Copson from his SLR.
Throughout the action Colour Sergeant Barker showed braveness, alertness, calmness, and clear judgement. He allowed for the positive recognition of the terrorist grenade thrower before calmly deploying his men. He risked his own life in pursuing the terrorist. By his quick thinking the terrorist was shot without causing casualties to his own men. After the action he ordered part of his party to give first aid to four Arab Nationals who had been injured in the terrorist’s grenade attack.’

Thomas Alfred Barker was born on 13 October 1936, and attested for the Royal Lincolnshire Regiment at Lincoln on 5 January 1953. He served with the Regiment as part of BAOR (21 November 1954 to 20 April 1955; 26 January 1959 to 22 April 1960; and 12 June 1961 to 13 May 1964); FARELF (19 July 1955 to 24 July 1958, during which period he was Mentioned in Despatches); and in Aden (25 July to 28 September 1958), before transferring to the Parachute Regiment on 14 May 1964. He saw further service with them as a part of FARELF (8 January to 6 July 1965); MELF (18 February 1966 to 12 February 1967, during which period he was awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Brave Conduct); and BAOR (25 March to 7 April 1972), as well as service in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Northern Ireland. He was discharged with the rank of Warrant Officer Class II on 4 October 1976, after 23 years and 282 days’ exemplary service.

Sold with photocopied extract from the recipients’ Record of Service Red Book.