WWI HARBONNIERES CHARGE D.C.M. GROUP OF 8 MEDALS TO PTE. A.C. BARNES, 5-D. GDS.

D.C.M. Gazetted 30 Oct 1918:

"For conpicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during an attack. He was in charge of his section doing advanced guard to his squadron, and rode unwaveringly through heavy machine gun fire to his objective. Single handed he attacked a small group of enemy non-commissioned officers who were trying to organise the defence, and killed three and took three prisoners. He displayed splendid courage and dash throughout."

King's Police Medal for Distinguished Service Gazetted 2 June 1943:

"Sub Divisional Inspector Barnes joined the Force in Oct 1919 and, obtaining promotion rather more rapidly than usual, reached his present rank in Apr 1938. He has experience in the East and West Ends, both in inner and outer Divisions. He has proved himself a man of sterling qualities, strong personality and irreproachable character. He has ability and energy as well and is an enthusiastically good leader who inspires confidence. He did very good work under the trying conditions of air raids in heavily bombed West Ham. He has been specially commended on four occasions, three of them since he has reached his present rank."

Albert Cyril Barnes was born in St. Patrick's, Belfast, and worked as a grocer's assistant before attesting with the 5th Dragoon Guards at Weymouth, Dorset on 12 Aug 1912. Posted to France on 15 Aug 1914 and decorated for gallantry during the Harbonnieres cavalry chare. The charge at Harbonnieres an 8 August 1918 was one of the last great cavalry charges of the British Army, resulting in the capture of a train, 2 field guns, 1 howitzer, 2 anti-aircraft guns, 29 German officers, 740 other ranks, and numerous horses and transport vehicles.

Brig.-Gen. Terrot was awarded the bar to his D.S.O. for the charge andone of his men later recounted: “They gave us the order to charge and I remember thinking: ‘At last we are at it!’ We were knee-to-knee, galloping as fast as the slowest horse could run. The whole line came together and we were leaning forward, our swords pointing. We were close to the train and I could see our blokes going in. They were sticking their swords into everyone in sight. A lot of Germans had their hands up and were trying to surrender but our men were skewering them anyway.”

Terrot had a horse shot from under him, and also received a wound to the head, during the action. Discharged to the Army Reserve on 16 Sep 1919, Barnes married Mildred Eveline Shepstone at Weymouth on 23 June 1920 and became a Police Constable on 20 Oct 1919, promoted to Sub Divisional Insector on 18 Aug 1938.