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Auction: 25111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 299

The Victory Medal awarded to Private V. N. Barrie, Royal Flying Corps, late Royal Engineers, who was reported as Missing in Action on 6 April 1917

Victory Medal 1914-19 (40213 Pte. V. N. Barrie. R.F.C.), good very fine

Vincent Norman Barrie was born at Brentford, Middlesex in 1893. He worked at Harrods as a clerk and originally enlisted as a Cyclist with the 25th County of London Territorial Force on 22 November 1910 (763) but with the outbreak of the Great War was to join the Royal Engineers (28083) and entered the war in France on 16 August 1914 with the rank of Corporal. He transferred into the Royal Flying Corps (40213) as Airman 2nd Class on 21 August 1916 and was quickly promoted to Acting Corporal on 16 September 1916 but reverted to Airman 2nd Class on 6 November 1916. Barrie became an Aerial Gunner with No. 59 Squadron and was involved on numerous patrols in early 1917. On 6 April 1917 he was one of three aircraft acting as escort to a photographic machine of the same squadron flying in a RE8 (A3260) piloted by Lieutenant Bailey, a further two RE8s flew as part of the group piloted by Lieutenant Pepper and Second Lieutenant R. W. Davies. The aeroplane never returned and he was reported as being killed in action that day, his body and that of Lieutenant Bailey (alias Alban) were never found and consequently both names are remembered on the Arras Flying Services Memorial.

His family applied for his medals and received a 1914 Star Trio issued in 1921 (Star) and 1923 (BWM & Victory) respectively; sold with copied research.

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Sold for
£110

Starting price
£30