Distinguished Service Order 1886-89

Distinguished Service Order awarded to Admiral Charles James Barlow (1848-1921) for services during the Burma War of 1885-86. Lean’s Navy List reported that General Sir H. Prendergast says: ‘Commander Barlow’s march of 120 miles through the country with a detachment of Blue Jackets reflects great credit on that officer and his party’ (Lean’s Navy List). Barlow entered the Royal Navy in 1862 and rose to become Admiral Superintendent of Pembroke Dockyard, 1899-1902 and of Devonport, 1906-08. During the First World War he accepted a temporary commission at a lower rank in the RNR and commanded ‘Valiant’ in the Auxiliary Patrol. Later in 1914 he was promoted to Captain RNR.

The medal is an enamelled white cross edged in gold with a green central wreath containing the Imperial Crown in gold on a red background. On the reverse is the Royal Cypher within a green wreath on a red background. The ribbon has a wide central stripe of red edged with narrower stripes of blue. It has a fitted case of issue.