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Auction: 22001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 541

A Great War, Imperial Camel Corps, M.B.E. group of six awarded to Captain J. Barber, Camel Corps, late Royal Warwickshire Regiment, who commissioned from the ranks after the outbreak of the Great War and played an important role in the Imperial Camel Corps from its founding

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Officer's 1st type breast Badge, Silver, hallmarked for London 1919; 1914-15 Star (263 S. Mjr., Camel Corps E. A.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. J. Barber.); Army L.S. & G.C. (S. Mjr., St. of the Army); Egypt, Kingdom, Order of the Nile, 4th Class, breast Badge, silver, silver-gilt and enamel, mounted as worn, minor damage to the enamel of the last, overall good very fine (6)

M.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1919.

Order of the Nile London Gazette 9 March 1917.

James Barber was born on 30 August 1855, the son of John Barber of Portsmouth, Hampshire. Having served in the ranks for over fourteen years he was serving in at the Camel Corps School in Egypt with the rank of Sergeant Major when he was awarded his L.S. & G.C. on 1 January 1914. Still here on 20 March 1915 Barber was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on 20 March 1915 and further advanced Lieutenant on 28 September that same year. During this time Barber was serving in the Canal Zone however he was promoted Captain on 1 January 1916 and seconded to the Camel Corps. Appointed Adjutant that same month, one story of his time here comes from A fighting Colonel of Camel Corps which states:

‘The first parade at the Depot was at 0:30 hours. The Adjutant at Abbassia was an ex-sergeant Major of the Coldstream Guards [SIC]. He thought it would be a good idea to have some music in the camp to sound reveille and the bugle calls so he paraded one detachment and asked, “Are any of you men a bugler?”. The most frightful looking ruffian in the rear rank held up his hand. Incredulously Captain Barber asked, “What, are you a Bugler”
The man replied, “Sorry Guv, I thought you said Burglar!’

The Camel Corps saw action against the remains of the Senussi in Egypt and Sudan as well as at Darfur where the local Sultan had displayed pro-Ottoman leanings. Barber’s service also took him to Palestine and Syria until 1 August 1918 when he was promoted Officer Commanding the Camel Corps Depot at Khanka. He married May Lightowler, daughter of William John Villars of City Road London and retired in 1923; sold together with copied research including M.I.C., medal roll and auction listings as well as War Diaries from the Australian Imperial Camel Corps, extracts from a Note on the History of the Camel Corps and the Handbook of the Order of the British Empire.


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Sold for
£1,500

Starting price
£450