C & T Auctioneers and Valuers Ltd
Lot 506
WW1 British Tank Crew Face Mask Worn By Lance Corporal Francis J Barker, 15th Battalion Tank Corps, Awarded the Military Medal for Bravery During the Attack on Flesquieres 27th September 1918, Leather covered steel face section with slotted eye section. Chamois covered reverse. Complete with chainmail linked bottom. Complete with the original cloth tape ties. Some light scuffs to the brown leather but generally a very good example. Accompanied by a small brass framed photograph of Barker in uniform wearing his MM medal ribbon. The Military Medal appeared in the London Gazette: 14th May 1919, the citation for the award in the roll of honour is as follows, “304657 L/Cpl Berker, Francis J. 15th Battn. Awarded MM. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in action on the occasion of the attack on Flesquieres on September 27, 1918. He was wounded in the face whilst placing unditching gear in position under shell fire. In spite of his wound he remained at his task until he was again wounded in the neck. He volunteered to remain with the tank, but his officer handed him over to infantry stretcher-bearers.” Francis John Barker who was a local of Camberwell, London, originally enlisted into the 1/24 (County of London) Battalion London Regiment, serving with them after the 1 January 1916. He was wounded in action on the 24 September 1916, whilst serving near High Wood. In 1917 he transferred to the 15th Battalion, Tank Corps, and served with them until the end of the war, where on the 27 September 1918, he displayed gallantry of a notable kind during his battalion’s advance in conjunction with the Grenadier Guards on the Hindenburg Line and the town of Flesquires. The Battalion advanced gallantly with all of their 26 Tanks. By the ned of the action, there was only 8 tanks that answered the roll call, with many gallantry awards being given for this action. This grouping is being sold by the recipients grandson and has never been offered on the market before. See lots – and – for the recipients medal grouping and large Panorama Photograph of the 15th Battalion Tank Corps.
