A Knight Bachelor, C.B.E. (Civil), O.B.E. (Military) group of seven awarded to Sir Oliver Barnett, Q.C., Judge Advocate General, late Wing Commander, Royal Air Force

Knight Bachelor’s Badge, 2nd type breast badge, in case of issue; The Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Civil) 2nd type neck badge, in case of issue; The Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military); Defence & War Medals; Coronation 1953; Special Constabulary Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Oliver C. Barnett) these last five mounted as worn, together with two mounted groups of miniatures, one without K.B. badge; Royal Society of St George, enamelled breast badge; and R.A.F. Association lapel badge, generally extremely fine (22) £450-550

Oliver Charles Barnett was born on 7 February 1907, and educated at Eton. Barnett displayed an early interest in criminology and, from the age of 18, he was for three years an unofficial visitor at Oxford Prison. From 1925 to 1939 he was a member of the Berkshire Special Constabulary. In 1928 he was called to the Bar at Middle Temple, and after three years in parctice on the Oxford Circuit and at the Old Bailey, he joined the staff of the Director of Public Prosecutions. In 1934 he joined the judicial section of the Office of the Judge Advocate General, the final arbiter in all military legal matters.

On the outbreak of the war the judicial staff were commissioned into the forces, Barnett joining the Royal Air Force. By the end of the war Barnett was a Wing Commander and an Assistant Judge Advocate General (Army and R.A.F.). In 1953-54 he was Deputy Judge Advocate General (Army and R.A.F.) in Germany, and the following year he was appointed Vice Judge Advocate General. From 1963 until his retirement in 1968 he held the ultimate appointment as Judge Advocate General.

Barnett was appointed Deputy Chairman, Somerset Quarter Sessions, in 1967 and continued to sit in that capacity until 1967. He was awarded the O.B.E. (Military) in 1946, appointed C.B.E. (Civil) in 1954, took silk in 1956 and was knighted in 1968. In 1964 he was elected as a Master of the Bench of the Middle Temple. Sir Oliver Barnett died on 3 February 1995.