Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Private E. R. Barrett, Rifle Brigade, later Royal Naval Reserve

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Defence of Ladysmith, Orange Free State, Laing’s Nek, Belfast (6357 Pte. E. Barrett.Rifle Brigade); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (6357 Pte. E. Barrett. Rifle Brigade.); British War and Victory Medals (11728D.A. E. R. Barrett. D.H. R.N.R.) with named card box of issue, in envelope addressed to ‘Mr. E. R. Barrett, 14 South Gates Road, (Wet Dock Tavern), Gt Yarmouth’, mounted as worn, nearly extremely fine (4) £240-280

Ernest Reuben Barrett was born in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, on 24 August 1880, and was educated at Yarmouth Grammar School. He attested there for the Rifle Brigade on 2 January 1899, and served with them in South Africa during the Boer War, and was present at the Defence of Ladysmith. He was discharged at his own request at Cairo on 31 August 1903, after 4 years and 242 days’ service. He subsequently served during the Great War as a Deck Hand in the Royal Naval Reserve from 17 July 1916, and was shore pensioned on 12 May 1919. In civilian life he was a well known local character, and ran the Wet Dock Tavern on Great Yarmouth seafront, a very popular institution with returning fishermen.

Sold together with the recipient’s Protection and Identity Certificate; Parchment Certificate of Discharge and Parchment Certificate of Character on Discharge; Certificate of Service in the Royal Naval Reserve; and various photographic images and other ephemera, including a photograph of the beer tent that would have greeted returning fishermen to Great Yarmouth.