A Great War ‘Western Front’ D.C.M. group of three awarded to Lance Bombardier F. J. Barnes, Royal Horse Artillery

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (139966 Dvr: F. J. Barnes. ‘T’ By: 14/A.Bde: R.H.A.); British War and Victory Medals (139966 Dvr. F. J. Barnes. R.A.) mounted court-style for wear, light contact marks throughout, generally very fine (3) £500-£700

D.C.M. London Gazette 15 November 1918:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When a shell killed or wounded the five other signallers with him and broke the telephone he ran back, and, after being knocked down by another shell, got another telephone and opened up communication with the observation post. His cool determination and devotion to duty were beyond praise.’

Frederick James Barnes, a milkman of 131 Morland Road, Croydon, attested for the Royal Horse Artillery at Kingston upon Thames on 11 December 1915. Initially posted to “P” Battery as Driver 12 May 1916, he qualified 1st Class Signaller and Telephonist at Woolwich on 7 September 1916. Sent to France from 15 September 1916 with “T” Battery, his unit is later recorded in the summer of 1917 as serving as part of 14th Brigade R.H.A. near Ghyvelde on the Channel coast. According to author K. T. L. Rhodes in The Battery: A Story of 150 Years of T Battery (Shah Sujah’s Troop), Royal Artillery, 1838-1988 (1991):

‘The gun position was an unpleasant one on marshy ground. No dugouts could be made and the Battery lived in little tin shelters along the bank between a road and a canal. The waggon lines were thirteen miles away and ammunition came up by barge, although a ration cart came to the position daily. Enemy shelling was very active and prolonged and in order to reduce casualties personnel were withdrawn from the gun position from time to time. Aircraft from both sides were also very active, with enemy aircraft coming in to attack from the sea.’

Transferred briefly to the Italian theatre of operations from 30 November 1917 to 27 March 1918, Barnes and his Battery returned to the Western Front as reinforcements to plug the gaps in the lines during the German Spring Offensive. Awarded the D.C.M. and advanced paid Lance Bombardier, he survived the Great War and was discharged on 12 October 1919.

Sold with copied service record and private research.