Victory Medal 1914-18
Obverse: Winged Victory standing (front), a palm branch in her right hand, her left arm outstretched. Reverse: Within a laurel garland, inscription: 'THE GREAT WAR FOR CIVILIZATION 1914-1919'. Inscription on edge: 'PAYR. LT. CR. L.R. BARKER R.N.' Fitted with a ring and watered silk ribbon of rainbow hues. Mounted on a bar with three others. The original box of issue is numbered ZBA8019 and is for MED1378 and MED1377.
The son of a Melton Mowbray solicitor, Leonard Richard Barker (1881-1971) entered the civil branch of the Royal Navy on15 July 1899. Before the start of World War I, he had served on the East Indies Station with the rank of Assistant paymaster in sloops HMS 'Odin', and HMS 'Alert'. These ships were employed suppressing gun running in the Persian Gulf. He returned to the United Kingdom at the start of the war, and by now a paymaster, was transferred to armoured cruiser HMS 'Roxburgh' from the 14 July 1915. The ship was at that time in Rosyth, undergoing repairs following her damage by a torpedo from 'U-38'. From April 1916 she was back in service, escorting Atlantic convoys. On the 13 February 1918, she rammed and sunk 'U-89'. Barker continued his naval career after the war, retiring as paymaster captain on 18 July 1931. He returned to service in 1940 and continued throughout World War II. He married Gladys Bootiman on 10 October 1916 in Liverpool and died in Addlestone, Surrey, aged 90.
The son of a Melton Mowbray solicitor, Leonard Richard Barker (1881-1971) entered the civil branch of the Royal Navy on15 July 1899. Before the start of World War I, he had served on the East Indies Station with the rank of Assistant paymaster in sloops HMS 'Odin', and HMS 'Alert'. These ships were employed suppressing gun running in the Persian Gulf. He returned to the United Kingdom at the start of the war, and by now a paymaster, was transferred to armoured cruiser HMS 'Roxburgh' from the 14 July 1915. The ship was at that time in Rosyth, undergoing repairs following her damage by a torpedo from 'U-38'. From April 1916 she was back in service, escorting Atlantic convoys. On the 13 February 1918, she rammed and sunk 'U-89'. Barker continued his naval career after the war, retiring as paymaster captain on 18 July 1931. He returned to service in 1940 and continued throughout World War II. He married Gladys Bootiman on 10 October 1916 in Liverpool and died in Addlestone, Surrey, aged 90.
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Object Details
ID: | MED1378 |
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Collection: | Coins and medals |
Type: | War medal |
Display location: | Not on display |
Creator: | McMillan, William |
Events: | World War I, 1914-1918 |
Date made: | 1919 |
People: | Barker, Leonard Richard |
Credit: | National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London |
Measurements: | Overall: 36 mm |