Lieutenant Bernard Milner Barstow Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve & Metropolitan Police
The Man Bernard Milner Barstow was born on 1st October 1906 in Halifax, Yorkshire, son of William, a Brass Founder and Emma. He had one older sister, Irene who was born in 1905. In 1911 the family were living at 5, Clapton Avenue in Halifax. After finishing school Bernard followed in his father’s footsteps becoming a Brass Founder, but on 25th January 1926, aged 19 joined the Metropolitan Police as a Constable with Warrant Number 115284 and was described as being 5' 11 ¾ “ tall. By 1929 he was shown as living in quarters at The Police Station, Walton Street, Brompton and during his early service served on A2, V, and Co AB Divisions. He passed his 2nd and 1st Class Educational Examinations on 18th February 1927 and 13th February 1930 respectively, his Class II Motor Driving on 2nd January 1931 and his First Aid examination on 18th October 1933. He was appointed an instructor at the Motor Driving School on 2nd August 1939 and was shown as living in Police quarters at Gilmour House, Renfrew Road. During the second quarter of 1940 Bernard married Rosalind Agnes Lowry in Surrey, and for the early part of World War II continued serving in the police but on 17th May 1942 enlisted into the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve as a Temporary Sub Lieutenant (Engineering Branch) working in the Combined Operations Material Department, in Whitehall. He returned to the Metropolitan Police on 24th December 1945 on B6 Division and formally relinquishing his Commission on 3rd August 1946 as a Temporary Lieutenant. For his war time service in both the police and RNVR he was awarded the Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45 and was living at 96 Speer Road, Thames Ditton, Surrey. Bernard was awarded the Police Exemplary Service Medal on 3rd January 1952 and the Coronation Medal a year later in 1953. He retired on 31st October 1954 aged 48 receiving an average pensionable pay of £318-4s-6d and his service described as exemplary. In later life Bernard lived in Scarborough and died on 31st August 1976 aged 69, and Rosalind a few years later in 1980.
The Story The group of medals awarded to Bernard Milner Barstow were acquired from E-Bay during November 2015, having been offered on a second chance basis, the original deal having fallen through. They were of interest because of the inclusion of the Metropolitan Police record within the lot, giving details of Bernard’s service before, during and after World War II. The police record, coupled with Ancestry.UK enabled a brief biography to be pieced together.
Bernard Milner Barstow's World War II Admiralty Medal Certificate showing award of Defence & War Medals
Medal Details
- Defence Medal: Unamed as issued.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as issued.
- Coronation Medal 1953: Unnamed as issued.
- Police Exemplary Service Medal: CONST. BERNARD M BARSTOW
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Page last updated 6 Dec 15