Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare ‘Ruby Mines Expedition 1886’ Gold D.S.O. pair awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel A. L. Barrett, 43rd Gurkha (Rifle) Regiment of Bangal Infantry

Distinguished Service Order, V.R., gold and enamels, with integral top ribbon brooch bar; India General Service 1854-95, 4 clasps, Naga 1879-80, Burma 1885-7, Burma 1887-89, N.E. Frontier 1891 (Lieut. A. L. Barrett. 43rd Bengal N.I.) naming officially impressed in correct upright capitals, clasps with unofficial wired connections, contemporary cavalry-style mounting, some very minor chips to wreaths on the first, otherwise toned, good very fine (2) £4,000-£6,000

D.S.O., appointed 1 July 1887 (London Gazette 25 November 1887): ‘For services in Burma.’

Alfred Lloyd Barrett was born in 1855, son of the Rev. A. Barrett, D.D., of Carshalton House, Surrey. He was first commissioned as a Lieutenant into the 109th Foot on 11 February 1875, and joined the Bengal Staff Corps in the following year. He was appointed to the 43rd Bengal Infantry on 20 June 1878, was promoted to Captain on 11 February 1886; Major, 11 February 1895; Commandant 43 Bengal Infantry, with rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, 6 November 1895.

Lieutenant-Colonel Barrett served with the 43rd Bengal N.I. in the Naga Hills Expedition, 1879-80 (Medal with Clasp); with the Akha Expedition, 1883-84; with the Burma Expedition 1886-88, in the operations of the 1st Brigade, Ruby Mines Expedition, including the advance from Khannyat and capture of Maniloung, with the Northern Shan column, and was slightly wounded in an engagement near Lamaing on 2 September 1886 (Despatches G.G.O. 434 of 1887; 2 Clasps; D.S.O.); and with the Manipur Expedition in 1891 (Clasp). He was appointed Commandant of the 43rd Bengal Infantry in November 1895, and died in that appointment on 7 March 1900.