Lot 4269

Description

Group of Six: The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE)(Civil) 1st type; King's Police Medal (GVR) coinage head; Africa General Service Medal (EVIIR), - clasp - Somaliland 1902-04 (silver); British War Medal 1914-18; Victory Medal 1914-19; Delhi Durbar Medal 1911. Edwin Alfred John Barnes Senior Inspector Aden Pol on second medal, Sr.Inspr E.A.J.Barnes Aden H.Pol on fourth and fifth medals. Second medal engraved, fourth and fifth medals impressed, first, third and last medals unnamed. Extremely fine.

Edwin Alfred John Barnes, M.B.E. Senior Inspector Aden Police Force. Grounds of Recommendation for award of the King's Police Medal - Mr Barnes entered the Aden Police Force in December 1893. His record has been unblemished, as a Police Inspector he has always done his duties to the entire satisfaction of everyone, however his main use in Aden has been that of a confidential agent to the Residency. Having lived in Aden all his life he has obtained a unique personal knowledge of not only the local population but a large majority of the people who come to Aden either for business or passing through and has acquired a full knowledge of Arabic and Somali often being called upon to perform various duties requiring energy, intelligence, tact and trustworthiness and he has in every case shown that he possessed those qualities. In the early days of the war Inspector Barnes did valuable work in organising the Coolie Corps. Subsequently he has been the means of settling many labour difficulties and was also employed in the raising of the first two hundred men for the local labour corps. It was on account of his qualifications deputed especially for duty with the troops which attacked and took Sheikh Said in November 1914 and was present with the troops throughout these operations. Subsequently he was sent to Khor Omeria after the Arabs had fired on the boards of H.M.S.'Dufferin'. Though no result accrued at the time it was due to his influence that the Sheikh subsequently came into Aden and the situation was cleared. He has exhibited conspicuous devotion to duty and his services in connection with the war have been of a political and very special nature. MBE L G 03Jun1927 No.33280 pg 3617. KPM L G 01Jan1919 pg 105. Together with three pages of research.