Description
Queen’s South Africa, 6 bars, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast, King’s South Africa, 2 bars, SA 1901, SA 1902, 3728 Pte Thomas John Henry Barrow, 1st Essex Regiment.
QSA officially impressed: “3728 Pte T.J.H. Barrow. 1st Essex Regt”
KSA officially impressed: “3728 Pte J. Barrow. Essex Regt”
Confirmed on the medal roll for service with 1st Bn Essex Regiment, KSA with initial “J” matching the official medal roll entry.
Good preserved condition.
Thomas John Henry Barrow was born in Kingsland, London, Middlesex during 1875 being baptised at St Johns the Baptist in Hackney on 23rd June 1875.
Son of Purse Maker Frederick John Barrow and Louisa.
Before enlistment he assisted in his Fathers Shop, who ran a Greengrocer.
Aged 18 he enlisted with the Essex Regiment on 5th December 1892.
Joining 1st Bn on 20th February 1893.
He saw service at home from 5th December 1892 until 10th November 1899.
Serving in South Africa during the Boer War from 11th November 1899 until 8th October 1902.
Following his return home he finished out his 12 year term being discharged on 4th December 1904.
After getting out the Army, he married Elizabeth Jones on 2nd August 1903 at St Mark in Victoria Park.
By 1911 he lived in Poplar working as a Wagon Repairer.
In 1921 he was Wagon Examiner for London & North Western Railway.
He later died on 12th March 1938 and was buried in Newham on 18th March.
Earning 6 Bars in the Boer War
During his active service in South Africa, Pte Barrow earned a considerable amount of “Battle Bars” to his QSA Medal.
The services of the 1st Bn Essex Regiment can be read on Angloboerwar.com below:
https://www.angloboerwar.com/unit-information/imperial-units/555-essex-regiment
Having arrived early into the war, sailing on the Greek on 14th Nov 1899 and arriving at the Cape about 2nd December.
The 1st Essex was taken under Command of General French, joining a brigade with the 1st Yorks and 1st Welsh Regiments.
They quickly went off to take part in the “Relief of Kimberley” which was a success.
They then saw fighting at the Battle of Paardeberg on 18th February 1900, the Essex taking 12 men killed along with 2 Officers, including their Colonel, and 20 men wounded.
At this battle, Lieutenant Francis Newton Parsons, 1st Essex Regiment earned the Victoria Cross now on display at the Essex Regiment Museum, for his gallantry in risking his life to save a Private wounded with no cover.
Then came the new Battle of Driefontein, aka Abraham’s Kraal on 10th March 1900, where the Essex fighting alongside the Welsh made a gallant bayonet charge which gained them the commendations of Lord Roberts.
During the battle, they lost Lieut Parsons VC, who was once again selflessly displaying great bravery, when he was killed in action, leading to a posthumous MID for him, it had been 1 week since the recommendation was submitted for his VC.
His next clasp came at Johannesburg aka Battle of Door Kop on 28-29th May 1900.
Then the Battle of Diamond Hill aka Donkerhoek on 11-12th June 1900.
With his final battle clasp being earned at “Belfast” aka Bergenal on 21-27th August 1900.
After all that fighting, he was not even a year into a 3 year war which he fought until the end.
