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Auction: 25002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 129

'Here I lie a very helpless creature. My right leg is encased in plaster from the top of my thigh to the sole of my foot with pin passed through my heel to prevent any contraction - not very comfortable.

On my left leg the plaster starts below the knee and includes the whole foot, which sustained a multiple fracture and dislocation. I shall fully recover from these injuries but it will take many weary months.

I am most angry at being out of the battle - in fact I particularly wanted to be in at the kill. It all comes of being nervous. I always was frightened by mines and so I hit one. I wasn't very worried by shells and bullets so escaped those.'

So wrote Major Barnsley from Epsom Hospital in November 1944, having been evacuated from North West Europe after being blown up by a mine

The outstanding North West Europe D.S.O. group of six awarded to Major P. E. Barnsley, Herefordshire Regiment attached 1/7th Battalion, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment

Distinguished Service Order, G.VI.R., the reverse of the suspension bar officially dated '1945', with D. S. & S. case of issue; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Efficiency Decoration, G.VI.R., 'Territorial', the reverse officially dated '1951', with Royal Mint case of issue, mounted as worn, good very fine (6)

Provenance:
Spink, September 2001, Lot 908.

Just two D.S.O.'s awarded to the Herefordshire Regiment for the Second World War.

D.S.O. London Gazette 1 March 1945:

'At Vallee on 7 August 1944, this Officer's Company was ordered to attack some high ground south of the village. The attack was supported by a box barrage and shortly after the start line the Company encountered an enemy strong point.

Major Barnsley ran forward to the head of his men to close with the enemy and a fierce close-quarter battle ensued with bayonet and rifle butt. This Officer was everywhere cheering his men, with supreme courage and lack of fear, and as a result of his extraordinary example, 80 prisoners were taken and many killed or wounded. He continued his advance to a depth of 1000 yards through thickly wooded country, and it is beyond doubt that due to his complete devotion to duty and personal leadership, the Battalion was able to effect a break through'.

T.D. London Gazette 13 July 1951.

Paul Eric Barnsley was born on 10 August 1911 at Old Ford, Hereford, the son of Harry and Emily Barnsley, his father being an auctioneer by trade. Young Barnsley was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant into the Herefordshire Regiment in May 1939, having been a Cadet Corporal in the Hereford Cathedral School Contingent. During the Second World War, he found himself attached to 1/7th Battalion, The Queen's Regiment, with whom he served in earning his outstanding decoration, despite being reported wounded in action the day prior. He chose to stay at duty. His luck ran out and he was lucky to survive being blown up by a mine in November 1944, as evident in the aforementioned quote. On that occasion, his 'D' Company were charged to strike out on a recce patrol, his carrier met a mine, in attempting to find a good route for Elshoot.

Barnsley remained a key player in local Hereford military matters, Chairman of the local Old Comrades Association, he finally retired from the Territorials in January 1962; sold together with an original War Office letter, dated 11 November 1944, in which the recipient's father is informed that his son, 'Major P. Barnsley, The Herefordshire Regiment, has again been wounded', together with several original photographs, an old copy Birth Certificate dated 2 March 1932, and other later documentation, this last including a copy of a wartime letter in which the recipient refers to his wounds from a mine explosion.

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Estimate
£3,000 to £5,000

Starting price
£2500