Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War M.B.E. group of five awarded to Lieutenant J. G. Barraclough, Royal Fusiliers, who served with the Royal Naval Reserve during the Second World War

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 1st type breast badge, silver, hallmarks for London 1919; British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. J. G. Barraclough.); Italy, Kingdom, Order of the Crown, Fifth Class breast badge, gold and enamel, unmarked; France, Third Republic, Medal of Honour, with Swords, in ‘Gold’, silver-gilt, unnamed, very fine and better (5) £600-£800

M.B.E. London Gazette 22 March 1919:
'For valuable services rendered in connection with the War.'

Italian Order of the Crown, Fifth Class London Gazette 29 September 1922.

French Medal of Honour, 'avec Glaives en Vermeil', London Gazette 5 November 1920.

Jackson Gurth Barraclough was born at Whitby, Yorkshire, on 4 July 1887. Educated at St. Paul's, Birmingham, he was appointed as Cadet to the Artist's Rifles Officer Training Corps on 6 December 1915. Appointed to a Commission with the 5th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, he was sent to France on 28 September 1916 and immediately transferred to the 17th Battalion of the Regiment. Posted to Courcelette on the Somme, Barraclough was wounded in the right knee on 12 February 1917 and suffered concussion from a shell burst. The recipient's Officer Service Papers add: 'Smashed up my knee till it locked in a bent position in going "over the top" to my post while relieving.'

Sent to Seaford to recover, the incident later manifested itself in a speech impairment and lameness exacerbated by fluid retention and swelling. Barraclough was later released from service with effect from 1 March 1919, under Royal Warrant promulgated in Army Orders of 16 December 1918. Despite his afflictions, he went on to serve once again during the Second World War, and is recorded as a Temporary Lieutenant (Special Branch) in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve from 14 March 1944. This included postings to H.M.S. Braganza and the holding camp H.M.S. Mayina on the island of Ceylon.

Sold with copied Officer Service Papers and private research.