| Citation: | For services in connection with the disturbances in Kenya. Platoon Sgt. and Patrol Commander. Aberdare Forest, October to December 1953.Citation: Cpl BARKER has been a patrol commander and acting platoon Sergeant for the last 5 months. He has led his patrol with great dash and has shown an outstanding determination to seek out and engage the enemy in the forest. On 16 November 1955 Cpl Barker led his patrol from a forest base up the Gura river, searching the area for a suspected Mau Mau camp. He directed his trackers with skill and led his patrol in an immediate charge into the camp. Cpl Barker firing his Patchett personally killed one of the gang leaders and wounded 2 others who escaped. From the camp 7 rounds of Dum Dum .303 bullets, two Simis and all the gang documents and dairies which were of intelligence importance were recovered. On the 2nd December 1955, Cpl Barker led a patrol from MUNYANGE Camp and picked up tracks of 3 Mau Mau at the forest edge. He followed these tracks for some 5 miles including a crossing of the GURA River. Cpl Barker happened to be leading the patrol when he saw a Mau Mau coming down the track towards him. Cpl Barker shot him dead at 25 yards range. He immediately led his patrol at speed back tracking this Mau Mau. As the patrol was proceeding along a very steep hill , Sgt Mitchell, the Kenya Regiment Sergeant, attached to his patrol for liaison duties and as an interpreter, slipped and fell down the steep hill and accidentally shot and wounded himself in the leg. This was about 1530hours. Sgt Mitchell was unable to walk and was about six miles from the camp. Cpl Barker immediately organised his evacuation and gave him medical attention. Having got Sgt Mitchell half way back to this patrol base, Cpl Barker ran on ahead with only a tracker with him to get help and organise the rescue. Cpl Barker's patrol carried Sgt Mitchell all night through very difficult forest and across the fast flowing mountain river Gura. Sgt Mitchell reached the coy base after dawn the next day. Cpl Barker and his patrol, performed a great feat of non stop physical endurance during that 24 hours.Recommended by Lt/Col. CO 1 Devons, Brig, Sagna, Kenya, Gen, G Erskine, Kenya. |
