1914-15 Star Trio Sgt. Rifle Brigade Casualty. Mixed Race Muslim Londoner

1914-15 Star trio, plaque and scroll awarded to Barry Abdurehman B-1160 8^th Battalion Rifle Brigade. Abdurehman disembarked in France 21^st May 1915. He was killed in action 28^th June 1916 and buried at Faubourg D’Amiens cemetery Arras. Included is the WWII medal box named to David Abdurehman (most likely his son William David who continued what seems to have been a family tradition of using his middle name) a post card photo of Abdurehman and a 1914 Christmas tin which the medals came to me housed in.

Barry Abdurehman was the son of a prominent Turkish (or possibly originally Indian) Muslim – his funeral in 1898 was presided over by the founder of London’s first mosque, attended by the Turkish ambassador and reported in the national press.

The Name They Couldn’t Spell.

The 1914-15 star is named to B-1160 Sjt. Abdurghman, the war and victory medals are named to B-1160 Sjt Abdurehman (correct spelling) and the scroll and plaque are misspelled and named to Barry Abdurchman. There are 2 cross referenced medal index cards for Abdurehman – correcting the spelling mistake on the star in time for the issue of the war and victory medals and the spellings on the respective medal rolls match the spelling on the medals (copies of index cards and rolls pictured and included.) Also included is a copy of his pension card where they have spelt his name Abdurckman.

Despite the naming error the scroll has been framed and the plaque (Acton factory type) has been well polished over many years.

All in all a very unusual group as interesting for the social as well as military history.

A brief Biography of Barry Abdurehman

Barry Abdureman was born in London 1883 and registered as Patrick Mahommed B. U. D. Aburehman at the Kensington records office (copy of index included). In the 1891 census (copy included) he was still recorded under the name Patrick aged 7 at 102 Fernhead Rd Paddington with his father Hadji, mother, Margaret, and siblings. By the 1901 census (copy included) he was listed as “Barrie” aged 18 with his mother (now widowed) and 2 siblings. His father Hadji died in 1898 and news of his funeral was syndicated in papers across the country (enlarged and printed scan of the article from the Sheffield Daily Telegraph included).

A MOSLEM FUNERAL IN LONDON

The Moslem colony of London has just been decreased by the lamentable death of one of its oldest members in the person of Hadji Abduraehman, well known among the English merchants and firms. A hero of the Russo-Turkish war of 1878, a fortunate commercial man, a clever linguist, and, probably, one of the greatest Eastern travellers. He died at the age of 68, at his London residence, Burrows Road, Kensal Rise where the Ghusl (burial cleansing) and the Kaffan (burial habilliments) were performed by Hadji Mohammed Doulie of the London Temporary Mosque. After the body was placed in the coffin the Salant (prayers) was recited by the Rev. Syed Mohammed, from Medina, in the presence of a representative from the Turkish Embassy and a large number of Moslems from all parts of the world. The internment, which took place with full Islamic ceremonies yesterday, at Willesden, in the Moslem Cemetery, was witnessed by a large concourse of people. The hearse was drawn by four horses. The green banner of Islam, the Turkish Standard, was placed over the coffin, upon which were several wreaths, sent by English merchants and friends. Mourning carriages, conveying Mrs. Abduraehman and family, relatives, friends and Hadji Mohammed Doulie, Rev. Syed Mohammed and Sheikh Abdullah, were followed by a large number of Moslems to the cemetery, where the burial ceremonies were gone through solemnly and with continual lowly responses of “Ameen”.

He is recorded as having joined the Paddington rifles in 1899 with the serial number 6288 and left in 1902. There’s no record of any service in South Africa.

In 1904 Barry Married Amelia Belcher. On the wedding certificate (copy enclosed) Barry’s father is listed as Hadji Abdurehman with the occupation “oriental dealer” deceased.

Barry and Amelia had 2 children John Barrie born 15^th September 1905 and William David born 25^th January 1915.  By the time his second son was born Barry would have already have volunteered for the Rifle Brigade, the 8th and 9th battalions being formed in August 1914 and deploying to France in May 1915.

The Small Print:

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