Orders, Decorations and Medals

Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1902-04 (Lieut. J. M. Barker, R.N., H.M.S. Fox) good very fine £260-300

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals for the Somaliland 1902-1904 to the Royal Navy and Royal Marines.

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John Michael Barker became a Naval Cadet on 15 January 1894. Joining the battleship Prince George in January 1896, he was appointed a Midshipman in August that year. He was aboard the ship for Queen Victoria’s Naval Review on 26 June 1897. After service on the 2nd class cruisers Flora and Cambrian, January 1898-September 1900, he attended the Royal Naval College and in June 1900 was advanced to Sub Lieutenant. His next seagoing appointment was on the 2nd class cruiser Fox. On her he was promoted to Lieutenant in June 1902, served off the coast of Somaliland and landed for the capture of the Dervish stronghold at Illig in April 1904. He served as a Lieutenant aboard the Antrim, Psyche and Edgar, July 1905-1910. Promoted to Lieutenant-Commander in June 1910, he was placed in command of the river steamer Snipe and 1st Class gunboat Britomart both on the China Station, March 1910-January 1912. He was placed on the Retired List in 1912 and was employed under the Colonial Office as an Assistant District Commissioner in Somaliland. Recalled to the Navy for the Great War, he served on the battleship Swiftsure, November 1914-January 1916 and saw action at the Suez Canal, 1915 and Dardanelles 1915-16 for which the ship received battle honours. He was then appointed to Ceto, the Auxiliary patrol parent ship at Ramsgate. He reverted to the Retired List on 11 November 1918 and was promoted to Commander (Retired) on that date. He was still on the Retired List in 1939. Sold with copied service details and original postcard photographs of H.M. Ships Fox and Swiftsure.