The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals

Seven: Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Cape Colony (W. M. Barry, P.O. 1Cl. H.M.S. Naiad); Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1902-04 (W. M. Barry, P.O. 1Cl. H.M.S. Naiad); 1914-15 Star Trio (157657 C.P.O., R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (157657 W. M. Barry, P.O. 1Cl., H.M.S. Excellent); French Medaille Militaire, enamel chipped on the last, light contact marks, otherwise good very fine (7)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals.

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Also entitled to additional clasp ‘South Africa 1901’.

William Barry was born in Margate, Kent, on 11 January 1875, and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class aboard H.M.S. BOSCAWEN on 13 October 1892. He joined BLAKE (February 1892) and was advanced to Ordinary Seaman 11 January 1893 and to Able Seaman 14 August 1893. Served in this rate aboard VICTORY I (June 1895), EXCELLENT (September 1895), VERNON (March 1896), and ST VINCENT (June 1896) being advanced to Leading Seaman on 28 June 1896, to Petty Officer 2nd Class on 26 November 1896, and to Petty Officer 1st Class on 1 March 1899. He subsequently served in the latter rate aboard DUKE OF WELLINGTON (August 1889), EXCELLENT (September 1899), VERNON (November 1899), EXCELLENT (December 1899), DUKE OF WELLINGTON (January 1901), and NAIAD (March 1901) in which ship he served in South Africa and Somaliland. He next joined EXCELLENT (August 1904) and was awarded his L.S. & G.C. medal in 1908 and advanced to Acting Chief Petty Officer on 11 August 1909. He served next aboard HINDUSTAN, and was confirmed Chief Petty Officer on 11 August 1910, prior to joining EXCELLENT (April 1912) and QUEEN ELIZABETH (December 1914). He continued to serve in the latter ship for most of the 1914-18 War and was present at the various actions at Gallipolli and in the Dardanelles and was awarded the French Medaille Militaire for service in the Dardanelles 1915-16 London Gazette 15 September 1916. On 27 May 1915 Admiral Sackville Carden, Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet, was requested to nominate six officers or men to receive decorations for gallantry, who had take part in operations in the Dardanelles between 19 February and 27 May 1915. These names were confirmed in the Bulletin of 4 December 1915; two Crosses of the Legion d’Honneur and four Medailles Militaire and were awarded and were sent to the British Admiralty for presentation. He joined EXCELLENT (October 1917) and served until discharged dead from Royal Naval Hospital, Haslar, on 25 February 1918, cause of death being given as nephritis. His name is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.