Orders, Decorations and Medals

Military General Service 1793-1814, 1 clasp, Fort Detroit (Thos. Bernard, Lieut. 41st Foot) in original card box of issue, the lid additionally inscribed in ink ‘Detroit 1812, Stony Creek, Black Rock & Buffalo 1813’, minor edge bruises, otherwise good very fine and very rare £4000-5000

See Colour Plate V

Medal and box of issue named to Bernard but his surname was actually Barnard. Seven officers and 55 men of the 41st Foot lived to claim the medal for Fort Detroit, the only British regiment to qualify for this North American action.

Thomas Barnard was appointed Ensign in the 41st Foot on 25 March 1808, becoming Lieutenant on 3 April 1810. He was appointed Acting Staff Adjutant in Lower Canada on 3 November 1812., as A.D.C. to Brigadier-General John Vincent on 17 July 1813, and as A.D.C. to Major-General Henry Conran on 15 July 1814. He was present at Fort Detroit, 16 August 1812; Frenchman’s Creek, 28 November 1812; Stoney Creek, 5 June 1813 (horse killed); and at Black Rock and Buffalo, 30 December 1813. Barnard was afterwards appointed Captain in the 95th Foot, on 24 August 1815, and went on Half-Pay as Captain in the 71st Foot in April 1820.