A M.V.O. and R.V.M. group of five awarded to Sergeant H. G. Barrett, Royal Horse Artillery

The Royal Victorian Order, M.V.O., Member’s 5th Class breast badge, silver, silver-gilt, and enamel, the reverse unnumbered [see footnote], minor blue enamel restoration to motto; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Cape Colony (49234 Sgt. H. G. Barrett. U Bty., R.H.A.); Coronation 1911, silver, unnamed as issued; Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (49234 Sjt: H. G. Barrett. R.H.A.); Royal Victorian Medal, G.V.R., silver, unnamed as issued, mounted court-style for display, traces of lacquer, otherwise good very fine and better (5) £700-£900

John Tamplin Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, June 2009 (when the M.V.O. was erroneously described as being ‘officially numbered 589’; and the Q.S.A. additionally had the clasp Orange Free State).

M.V.O. 5th Class London Gazette 2 January 1933

Henry Gulliver Barrett was born in Woolwich on 2 May 1871; his father was Richard Barrett, a Sergeant in the Riding Establishment, Royal Artillery. Following his father’s footsteps, Barrett joined the Royal Horse Artillery and as a Sergeant in ‘U’ Battery R.H.A. served in South Africa during the Boer War from 21 December 1899 to 5 March 1900. He was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal with Gratuity per Army Order 172 of October 1903. After leaving the Army he joined Royal Service, and as Clerk of the Stables at Marlborough House he was awarded the Royal Victorian Medal in Silver on 31 December 1925, on the occasion of the death of Queen Alexandra, on 20 November 1925. He was subsequently in the Household of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales and for many years organised the reunion dinners of ‘Q’ Battery, R.H.A. As ‘Storekeeper, Royal Mews, Buckingham Palace’, he was appointed a Member Fifth Class of the Royal Victorian Order on 29 July 1932, and was presented with the insignia in hospital by Sir Arthur Erskine shortly before he died in Croydon General Hospital on 13 November 1932.

Note: Research included with the lot, compiled by John Tamplin, indicates that the recipient was allocated the M.V.O. badge no. 589; however, owing to the fact that the insignia of the Order was presented to him in hospital in a presumably hurried ceremony, and before the notification of the award had even appeared in the London Gazette, it is possible that he was invested with an unnumbered badge.

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