William George Barker
Acting Major, 201 Squadron Royal Air Force
- Register No.
- 52 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Acting Major all Majors →
- Unit
- 201 Squadron Royal Air Force (register: No. 1 Squadron RFC) all No. 1 Squadron RFC VCs →
- Date of action
- 27 October 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 30th November 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Born
- 3rd November 1894 at Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada
- Died
- 1st March 1930 near Ottawa, Canada
- Memorial / grave
- grave in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto
- Medal held by
- the Canadian War Museum, Ottawa, Canada
Digest of citation
On 27 October 1918 over the Foret de Mormal, France, Major Barker attacked a two-seater enemy aircraft causing it to break up in the air. He was afterwards attacked by a formation of Fokker fighters and was wounded in both thighs and his elbow was shattered. He lost consciousness twice but each time, on recovering, went back to the attack and sent three of his opponents down in flames. Finally he brought his crippled aircraft back to our lines where he crashed on landing
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
BARKER, William George. (Reg. No. 52)
Acting Major 201 Squadron Royal Air Force.
London Gazetted on 30th November 1918 VC Medal's Custodian is the Canadian War Museum, Ottawa, Canada.
Born on 3rd November 1894 at Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada.
Died on 1st March 1930 near Ottawa, Canada.
Memorial at grave in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto.
Digest of Citation reads: On 27 October 1918 over the Foret de Mormal, France, Major Barker attacked a two-seater enemy aircraft causing it to break up in the air. He was afterwards attacked by a formation of Fokker fighters and was wounded in both thighs and his elbow was shattered. He lost consciousness twice but each time, on recovering, went back to the attack and sent three of his opponents down in flames. Finally he brought his crippled aircraft back to our lines where he crashed on landing.
Additional information: His other medals included DSO and Bar, the MC and 2 Bars, The French Croix de Guerre and the Italian Silver Medal for Military Valour. He was the son of Mr G.W.J.Barker of Winnipeg, Manitoba. He was educated at Dauphin College, Manitoba before joining the Army (Manitoba Regt.) on the 1st November 1914. He was attached to the Royal Air Force. As a soldier he was awarded the Military Cross at the capture of Beaumont Hamel on 20th November 1916 whilst the Bar for this Medal came during the capture of Bulecourt on 9th of April 1917. The second Bar to his MC was awarded for destroying enemy aircraft on the 24th April 1918 and the Croix de Guerre for destroying enemy aircraft on the French Sector, 26th May 1918. He got his DSO for destroying enemy aircraft on the 5th January 1918 and the Bar for the destruction of enemy aircraft on 20th July 1918. The Italian Silver Medal for Valour was for destroying enemy aircraft on the Italian Front. Along with these he also had the 1914-15 Star and other campaign medals. He went on to serve as a Wing Commander in the Canadian Air Force from 1920-24. Along with William Bishop VC., (Reg No.93) he planned to start a business to be called the Bishop-Barker Aviation Company Ltd. (I have no record so far of this)
Additional information
His other medals included DSO and Bar, the MC and 2 Bars, The French Croix de Guerre and the Italian Silver Medal for Military Valour. He was the son of Mr G.W.J.Barker of Winnipeg, Manitoba. He was educated at Dauphin College, Manitoba before joining the Army (Manitoba Regt.) on the 1st November 1914. He was attached to the Royal Air Force. As a soldier he was awarded the Military Cross at the capture of Beaumont Hamel on 20th November 1916 whilst the Bar for this Medal came during the capture of Bulecourt on 9th of April 1917. The second Bar to his MC was awarded for destroying enemy aircraft on the 24th April 1918 and the Croix de Guerre for destroying enemy aircraft on the French Sector, 26th May 1918. He got his DSO for destroying enemy aircraft on the 5th January 1918 and the Bar for the destruction of enemy aircraft on 20th July 1918. The Italian Silver Medal for Valour was for destroying enemy aircraft on the Italian Front. Along with these he also had the 1914-15 Star and other campaign medals. He went on to serve as a Wing Commander in the Canadian Air Force from 1920-24. Along with William Bishop VC., (Reg No.93) he planned to start a business to be called the Bishop-Barker Aviation Company Ltd. (I have no record so far of this)
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: grave in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto
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