A Great War Royal Naval Division M.C. group to Lieutenant W. Barnett,...

A Great War Royal Naval Division M.C. group to Lieutenant W. Barnett, Anson Battalion, R.N.D. late East Yorkshire Regiment (Hull Commercials), who was later wounded in action and taken prisoner of war

Military Cross, George V, the reverse engraved ‘Lieut. W. Barnett, Anson Battn. R.N.D., Sept. 1918’; 1914-15 Star (10-699 Sjt. W. Barnett. E. York. R.); British War and Victory Medals (S. Lt. W. Barnett. R.N.V.R.) mounted for wearing, nearly extremely fine (4) £1,400-£1,800

Provenance
Sotheby, December 1998.

Footnote
M.C. London Gazette 11 January 1919:

‘T./Sub. Lt. Walter Barnett, Anson Bn., R.N.V.R., R.N. Div.
For conspicuous gallantry during an attack. Under heavy machine-gun fire he successfully led his company forward by rushes to the final objective. Twenty-seven enemy machine guns were afterwards counted on the ground over which his company passed, and it was chiefly owing to their determined advance that the battalion was able to reach its final objective. He showed fine courage and leadership.’

Sold with the following documentation and artefacts:
i) four original photo-postcards, of Barnett in uniform, two of them with fellow officers;
ii) Case of issue for M.C., related cap badge, an Australian Military Forces cap badge, ribbon bar, whistle, and two military sports medals, in silver;
iii) Buckingham Palace P.O.W. ‘welcome home’ letter, with original envelope;
iv) two local newspaper pages (Hull Daily News and Eastern Morning News, 15/16 January 1919), containing the following article:

‘Lieutenant Barnett is the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Barnett, 162 Blenheim Street, and was engaged with Messrs. Dawson and Loncaster, solicitors. He joined the Hull Commercials in September 1914, and saw service with them in Egypt and France. In August 1917 he was granted a commission in the Royal Naval Division, and returned to France in May 1918. The brave act for which he was granted the decoration occurred in connection with the breaking of the Hindenburg switch line on the 2nd September last. Lieutenant Barnett subsequently saw very heavy fighting, but escaped unwounded down to the 30th September, when, in an attempt undertaken by him to silence an enemy machine-gun, he had the misfortune to lose his right eye, and was taken prisoner. He returned to Hull from Germany last month, and is at present at the Brooklands Hospital for officers, Cottingham Road.’