Colin Islwyn Barnes joined the infantry in 1945, later transferring to the Royal Artillery and then to the Intelligence Corps, seeing service in (post-war) Palestine and Oman. As a Senior NCO & Warrant Officer Class 2 in the Corps he spent ten years in the Middle East and served with the Trucial Oman Levies (seeing active service during two operations at Buraimi Oasis during the mid-1950s), the Transjordan Frontier Force and the British Military Mission to Saudi Arabia. He was awarded an MBE in 1956 for his service with the Trucial Oman Scouts.

He left the Intelligence Corps in 1957 but remained in the Middle East and Africa working with the United Nations and various American agencies. He was a founder member of the Abu Dhabi Defence Force and was subsequently a member of the Abu Dhabi Royal Guard. He frequently acted as an Emissary to the Court of Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia. He later became Staff Paymaster and Records Officer for the armed forces of the Sultanate of Oman. In 1981 he was appointed personal assistant to the special advisor to the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He died in 1988 at the age of 61.

His medals are, left to right; the MBE, the 1939-45 War Medal, General Service Medal (GSM) with Clasps for Palestine & the Arabian Peninsula, the Star of Ethopia, Abu Dhabi Defence Service Medal, Oman Distinguished Service Medal, Sultan of Oman’s Commendation and Bar, Oman GSM (Dhofar), Oman Victory Medal and the Oman Peace Keeping Force Medal.