The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals (Part 2)

East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, Benin 1897 (F. Barrett, A.B., H.M.S. Philomel); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (137351 Fred Barrett, P.O. 1Cl, H.M.S. Russell); Naval Good Shooting Medal, G.V.R. (137351 F. Barrett, P.O. 1Cl., H.M.S. Implacable. 1903. 6 In. B.L.) light contact marks, otherwise very fine (3)

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

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Frederick Barrett was born on 20 November 1870 at Landulph, Cornwall, and was a farm servant before joining the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class aboard H.M.S. IMPREGNABLE on 25 May 1886 when aged 15 years. He advanced to Boy 1st Class on 13 July 1887 and joined his first ship ROVER (April 1888) being advanced to Ordinary Seaman on 20 November 1888. He served next aboard RUBY (May 1889) and IRON DUKE (November 1889) being advanced to Able Seaman on 13 February 1890, VIVID (May 1890), AURORA (July 1890), NARCISSUS (May 1892), CAMBRIDGE (May 1894), VIVID I (October 1894), GRAFTON (November 1894) and PHILOMEL (December 1894). During service aboard the latter vessel he was advanced to Leading Seaman on 20 July 1897 and landed for service on shore with PHILOMEL's Naval Brigade during the Benin Expedition against Chief Overiami which culminated in the capture and destruction of Benin City on 18 February.

He served next as a Leading Seaman aboard VIVID I (March 1898), CAMBRIDGE (May 1898), DEFIANCE (June 1898), CAMBRIDGE (September 1898), VIVID I (November 1898), and MELAMPUS (November 1898) being advanced to Petty Officer 2nd Class on 1 April 1899 and to Petty Officer 1st Class on 25 October 1900. He rejoined VIVID I (December 1900), then served aboard DEFIANCE (February 1901), CAMBRIDGE (March 1901), VIVID I (April 1901) and IMPLACABLE (September 1901). In the latter ship he took part in the 1903 Fleet Gunlayers Competition for 6” Breech Loading Guns and was awarded the Naval Good Shooting Medal. He subsequently served as Petty Officer 1st Class aboard the following ships CAMBRIDGE (September 1904), HOOD (July 1905), RUSSELL (April 1906), VIVID I (June 1908), EXCELLENT (August 1908), VIVID (September 1908) and HIBERNIA (January 1909). He was pensioned to shore on 17 November 1910 after 22 years adult service having been awarded his L.S. & G.C. medal in 1906 whilst serving aboard RUSSELL. He joined the R.F.R. at Devonport on 10 February 1911, was mobilised on 2 August 1914 aboard VIVID I and joined COLUMBINE (November 1914), STEPHEN FURNESS (January 1915), COLUMBINE (January 1916), GUNNER (May 1916) this last being a Q-Ship Base, and VICTORY (February 1919). He was demobilised on 3 April 1919.