Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Sapper J. A. Rathbone, Royal Engineers
1914-15 Star (47701 Spr: J. A. Rathbone. R.E.); British War and Victory Medals (47701 Spr: J. A. Rathbone. R.E.); Imperial Service Medal, G.V.R., circular type, 2nd issue (James Ashburner Rathbone.) nearly extremely fine

Three: Sapper W. Slocombe, Royal Engineers
British War and Victory Medals (506476 Spr. W. Slocombe. R.E.); France, Third Republic, Croix de Guerre, bronze, reverse dated 1914-1917, with bronze star emblem on riband, mounted as worn, very fine

Pair: Private A. O. J. L. Scarnell, Royal West Surrey Regiment
British War and Victory Medals (32820 Pte, A. O. J. L. Scarnell. The Queen’s R.) good very fine

Pair: Private A. A. Barham, Durham Light Infantry, who was Mentioned in Despatches, and later became a Roman Catholic Priest
British War and Victory Medals (63581 Pte. A. A. Barham. Durh. L.I.) good very fine (11) £300-£400

James Ashburner Rathbone attested for the Royal Engineers and served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 5 December 1914. In civilian life he was employed as a Sorting Clerk and Telegraphist in Liverpool, and was awarded his Imperial Service Medal upon his retirement in 1936 (London Gazette 2 October 1936.)

Walter Slocombe attested for the Royal Engineers at Bridgwater, Somerset, and served with them during the Great War, being awarded the French Croix de Guerre (London Gazette 22 November 1918).

Adolf Barham was born in Maltby in June 1887 and enlisted into the Durham Light Infantry on 9 December 1915. His Medal Index Card shows he later served in the Labour Corps and Royal Engineers, and for his services during the Great War he was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 10 July 1919). Post-War, Barham became a Catholic priest, taking up duties in Waiapu, New Zealand in 1927. He drowned whilst bathing in a nearby river on New Year’s Day 1930.