Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Lieutenant-Colonel W. T. Barry, Indian Staff Corps

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (Lieut: W. T. Barry. I.S.C.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lieut: W. T. Barry. I.S.C.); British War Medal 1914-20 (Lt. Col. W. T. Barry.) light contact marks, good very fine, rare (3) £240-£280

William Thurburn Barry was born on 10 May 1874 in Cape Town. Educated at Dover College, hewas commissioned into the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, Suffolk Regiment in March 1892, transferred to the East Surrey Regiment in June 1894 and was advanced to Lieutenant in December 1896. Appointed to the Indian Staff Corps 24 July 1897 and the 2nd (Queen’s Own) Rajput Light Infantry in December 1898, he served in the Boer War with the Indian Staff Corps on Special Service from 20 January to 6 February 1900, and was present in operations in Cape Colony, actions south of the Orange River 1899-1900 including the action at Kheis 29 May, operations in the Orange River Colony May to November 1900 including actions at Lindley 1 June, Rhenoster River 11 June and Lindley 26 June. He also served in operations in the Transvaal west of Pretoria July to November 1900, including the action at Ventes Kroon 7 and 9 August and operations in Transvaal November 1900 to May 1902. Promoted to Captain in June 1903 and Major in June 1912, he was appointed a Magistrate in the Lahore Cantonment in January 1904. He was transferred to the Supernumerary List in January 1914. In January 1918 he was ranked as a Second Class Magistrate. Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in June 1920, he retired on 3 June 1924. Living at 13 Half Moon Street, Piccadilly he died 26 August 1938. He is Mentioned in the book ‘Twice Captured!’ by James Francis Harry St Clair-Erskine, 5th Earl of Rosslyn.

Note: The recipient’s Medal Index Card verification confirms the War Medal as his only Great War Campaign medal entitlement. Under 100 Indian Army British Officers received the Queen’s South Africa Medal and only 13 (excluding medical personnel) the King’s South Africa Medal.

A revised footnote gives additional biographical information on the recipient. The QSA and KSA combination to the Indian Staff Corps is rare.