Personal Details
Clive Richard Barber, born in Wombridge, Shropshire in 1897, the only son of Thomas and Winifred Barber of Dairy Cottage, Park Avenue, Whitchurch.
Military Details
Regiment : 225th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery
Rank : Sergeant
Service Number : 106199
Died of Illness (influenza); France 20th November 1918 Age 21
Until 1993, the Military Medal (MM) was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land.
The medal was established on 25 March 1916. It was the other ranks' equivalent to the Military Cross (MC), which was awarded to commissioned officers and, rarely, to warrant officers, although WOs could also be awarded the MM. The MM ranked below the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM), which was also awarded to non-commissioned members of the Army.
Click on the tags below to see details of each recipient.
The British War Medal (also known as 'Squeak') was a silver or bronze medal awarded to officers and men of the British and Imperial Forces who either entered a theatre of war or entered service overseas between 5th August 1914 and 11th November 1918 inclusive. This was later extended to services in Russia, Siberia and some other areas in 1919 and 1920. Approximately 6.5 million British War Medals were issued. Approximately 6.4 million of these were the silver versions of this medal. Around 110,000 of a bronze version were issued mainly to Chinese, Maltese and Indian Labour Corps. The front (obv or obverse) of the medal depicts the head of George V. The recipient's service number, rank, name and unit was impressed on the rim.
The Allied Victory Medal (also known as 'Wilfred') was issued by each of the allies. It was decided that each of the allies should each issue their own bronze victory medal with a similar design, similar equivalent wording and identical ribbon. The British medal was designed by W. McMillan. The front depicts a winged classical figure representing victory. Approximately 5.7 million victory medals were issued. Interestingly, eligibility for this medal was more restrictive and not everyone who received the British War Medal ('Squeak') also received the Victory Medal ('Wilfred'). However, in general, all recipients of 'Wilfred' also received 'Squeak' and all recipients of The 1914 Star or The 1914/1915 Star (also known as 'Pip') also received both 'Squeak' and 'Wilfred'. The recipient's service number, rank, name and unit was impressed on the rim.
Further Information
Report in the Whitchurch Herald 30th November 1918 relating to the death of Clive Richard Barber
"Mr & Mrs Barber, Park Avenue, Whitchurch, have received sad news that their son, Sergeant Clive Richard Barker has died of Influenza at the No 11 Stationary Hospital, Rouen, France on the 20th November 1918. Sergeant Barber was educated at Whitchurch grammar School and afterwards employed as a clerk at Whitchurch Railway Station. He is shown as enlisting on the 10th December 1915, possibly his 18th birthday, and mobilised on the 14th July 1916. He move to France with the 225th Siege Battery on the 18th January 1917. He was promoted Bombardier in March 1917, Corporal in November 1917 and Sergeant in August 1918. He passed out from the 2nd Army Signalling School as a Signaller, First Class. He won the Military Medal on May 6th 1917 whilst with the French Army on the Aisne, for patrolling and repairing telephone lines while under heavy shell fire all day, keeping communications open. His actions that day help save the position. He was offered a commission, but preferred to stay with his pals in the battery, he was admitted to hospital on 7th November 1918, and died on 20th November 1918"
Whitchurch Herald 30th November 1918
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Information provided by Terry Evanson Whitchurch, Shropshire and Whitchurch Museum and Archives