Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Indian Mutiny Medal awarded to Colonel J. L. Barrow, C.B., Madras Artillery, who was mentioned for his gallantry in the First China War and in Central India; his younger brother Lousada was the noted commander of Barrow’s Volunteer Cavalry

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Central India (Bt. Major J L Barrow. Ordce Dept. Saugor F Divn.) nearly extremely fine £600-£800

Joseph Lyon Barrow was born at Balham, London, on 11 February 1812, son of Simon Barrow of Bath. He was the elder brother of Captain Lousada Barrow of Barrow’s Volunteer Cavalry. At Addiscombe 1827-29, and a cadet in the Madras Artillery, he arrived in India on 25 January 1830, and was gazetted 1st Lieutenant on 1 September 1830; Lieutenant, 10 September 1848; Captain, 15 May 1851; Brevet Major, 28 November 1854; Lieutenant-Colonel, 18 February 1861; Colonel, 24 March 1865; Major-General, 1 August 1872.

He was employed with General Wilson’s force against Kurnaol in 1839; served with the China expedition from April 1840 to December 1843; and was at the attack on the heights of Canton, capture of Amoy, Chapoo, second capture of Chusan, Ningpo, heights of Segoan, Woosung, Shanghai, Chinkeangfoo, Nankin, and the whole of the operations in the Yangtse-Kiang River. ‘No one better deserved his medal for China than Colonel (then Lieutenant) Barrow. It was at Chusan, we believe, that he distinguished himself, under the very eye of Lord Gough, by killing a powerful Mandarin in single combat’ (extract from his obituary in Broad Arrow refers).

He served in Central India in command of the Ordnance Department, Saugor Field Division. Mentioned in despatch of Brigadier-General H. Miller to the Assistant Adjutant-General, Saugor F.D., Camp Banda, 20 April 1858: ‘It is not very often I believe, that opportunities offer to artillerymen of distinguishing themselves in any line other than their own, but some such, having presented themselves yesterday, were eagerly laid hold of by officers and men... Major Barrow and Lieutenant Hennegan, gallantly supported by Lieutenant Blunt, of Her Majesty’s 12th Royal Lancers, with a few of his men captured another gun’.

Colonel Barrow was awarded the C.B. on 2 June 1869, and retired with the honorary rank of Major-General on 1 August 1872. He died at Hamilton House, Southampton, on 29 October 1890, aged 83.