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Wayne Ralph · 16 April 2002, 09:31 PM

I haven't had the opportunity to read Greenhous's biography about

Billy Bishop, so I can't speak to the merits of his case. But the controversy about Bishop's record - a long-standing controversy - should not mask the underlying truth that most military gallantry awards have a political ingredient. It is simply naive to think that a decoration as coveted as the Victoria Cross, awarded by the reigning monarch, is received only on the basis of objective facts reliably proven by independent parties.
Stories abound in the British Army of officers who received gallantry awards that properly should have been awarded to the batmen who fought by their sides. Other VC awards to flyers have had controversies. For example, Lieutenant

Alan Jerrard, a pilot with 66 Squadron in March 1918, received the VC because his flight commander said he deserved it. Jerrard played no part in the process, being a prisoner-of-war at the time. What was he to do after the war? Tell King George the Fifth that it was all a mistake - a case of enthusiastic embellishment. Hardly!
Victory scores of fighter pilots in all wars and among all air forces are, by and large, overstated. Overclaiming is an inevitable outcome due to the confusion of air combat. It is sometimes the result of ambition, often caused by the demands of propaganda and public relations, but only rarely due to outright deceit.

William Barker received his Victoria Cross for fighting alone against 60 German planes, shooting down, depending on the storyteller, between four and ten of the enemy. That's what the newspapers in London said in November 1918, and the newspaper stories created a legend that endures. Barker never made any such claim, nor did he ever endorse the legend. Barker combined forces with Bishop after the war to start the first airline in Toronto, Bishop-Barker Aeroplanes, Limited. Politicians and businessmen invested money with the two young flyers in their new venture. After all, the King had given Bishop and Barker the Victoria Cross. Wouldn't you want to help out two Canadian heroes?

Yours sincerely,

Wayne Ralph, biographer - BARKER VC - The Classic Story of a Legendary First World War Hero - ISBN 1-902304-31-4

Unit 102, 15050 Prospect Avenue
White Rock, BC V4B 2B4

(604) 538-9434

wayneralph@telus.net

16 April 2002, 09:31 PM	#17 (permalink)
Wayne Ralph Observer Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Unit 102, 15050 Prospect Avenue, White Rock, BC, V4B 2B4 Posts: 58	I haven't had the opportunity to read Greenhous's biography about Billy Bishop, so I can't speak to the merits of his case. But the controversy about Bishop's record - a long-standing controversy - should not mask the underlying truth that most military gallantry awards have a political ingredient. It is simply naive to think that a decoration as coveted as the Victoria Cross, awarded by the reigning monarch, is received only on the basis of objective facts reliably proven by independent parties. Stories abound in the British Army of officers who received gallantry awards that properly should have been awarded to the batmen who fought by their sides. Other VC awards to flyers have had controversies. For example, Lieutenant Alan Jerrard, a pilot with 66 Squadron in March 1918, received the VC because his flight commander said he deserved it. Jerrard played no part in the process, being a prisoner-of-war at the time. What was he to do after the war? Tell King George the Fifth that it was all a mistake - a case of enthusiastic embellishment. Hardly! Victory scores of fighter pilots in all wars and among all air forces are, by and large, overstated. Overclaiming is an inevitable outcome due to the confusion of air combat. It is sometimes the result of ambition, often caused by the demands of propaganda and public relations, but only rarely due to outright deceit. William Barker received his Victoria Cross for fighting alone against 60 German planes, shooting down, depending on the storyteller, between four and ten of the enemy. That's what the newspapers in London said in November 1918, and the newspaper stories created a legend that endures. Barker never made any such claim, nor did he ever endorse the legend. Barker combined forces with Bishop after the war to start the first airline in Toronto, Bishop-Barker Aeroplanes, Limited. Politicians and businessmen invested money with the two young flyers in their new venture. After all, the King had given Bishop and Barker the Victoria Cross. Wouldn't you want to help out two Canadian heroes? Yours sincerely, Wayne Ralph, biographer - BARKER VC - The Classic Story of a Legendary First World War Hero - ISBN 1-902304-31-4 Unit 102, 15050 Prospect Avenue White Rock, BC V4B 2B4 (604) 538-9434 wayneralph@telus.net