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Wayne Ralph · 19 April 2002, 06:56 PM

Dear Captain Lewis,

Barker had no aerial witnesses to the battle on 27 October 1918 - the last stages of his fight were witnessed by men in the front lines near Valenciennes. He force-landed near a British Kite Balloon Section, No 29, and was removed from his Snipe unconscious, bleeding profusely.

Brigadier General McNaughton of the Canadian Artillery said in an interview in the 1960s that the troops in the front line had watched Barker fight, and cheered him on as he defeated his enemies.

However, there is no evidence that any of those troops were interviewed, or McNaughton provided witness testimony. They may have, but there is no paper evidence of them doing so. I do not know if it was destroyed or never existed.

The German records do confirm the loss of a two-seater that closely matches the time and location of Barker's initial victory. There are no German records to support the loss of three other D.VIIs at that time of day.

Barker did not complete or sign the combat report, but it is conceivable that he made a verbal report to Squadron Leader Leman of 201. When he might have been conscious to do this is unknown. The earliest written correspondence from Barker is at the end of the first week of November, AFTER he has been recommended for the VC.

Leman had to recommend Barker for the VC, and others at higher formations had to agree. It is quite possible that Wing or Brigade commanders, knowing who Barker was, encouraged the submission of a recommendation. Barker already had a DSO and Bar, an MC and two Bars, a Croix-de-Guerre, and an Italian Silver Medal for Valour.

The pilots at 201 didn't like Barker much, and weren't very happy to see him get the VC - after all they were fighting the war in older Camels, when he had a Snipe, and he was not a full member of the squadron. Leman and Barker were friends from 1916 and Corps Cooperation activities.

Barker did say in a January 1919 interview that he had been careless and had tangled with about 15 enemy fighters that morning. That is the only comment he offered to anybody about the specifics of what had happened. Journalists had a habit of asking him about it, and he would chuckle in an easygoing way and say, "Well, its all down in the Gazette. Go read that - I have nothing to add..."

19 April 2002, 06:56 PM	#58 (permalink)
Wayne Ralph Observer Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Unit 102, 15050 Prospect Avenue, White Rock, BC, V4B 2B4 Posts: 65	Dear Captain Lewis, Barker had no aerial witnesses to the battle on 27 October 1918 - the last stages of his fight were witnessed by men in the front lines near Valenciennes. He force-landed near a British Kite Balloon Section, No 29, and was removed from his Snipe unconscious, bleeding profusely. Brigadier General McNaughton of the Canadian Artillery said in an interview in the 1960s that the troops in the front line had watched Barker fight, and cheered him on as he defeated his enemies. However, there is no evidence that any of those troops were interviewed, or McNaughton provided witness testimony. They may have, but there is no paper evidence of them doing so. I do not know if it was destroyed or never existed. The German records do confirm the loss of a two-seater that closely matches the time and location of Barker's initial victory. There are no German records to support the loss of three other D.VIIs at that time of day. Barker did not complete or sign the combat report, but it is conceivable that he made a verbal report to Squadron Leader Leman of 201. When he might have been conscious to do this is unknown. The earliest written correspondence from Barker is at the end of the first week of November, AFTER he has been recommended for the VC. Leman had to recommend Barker for the VC, and others at higher formations had to agree. It is quite possible that Wing or Brigade commanders, knowing who Barker was, encouraged the submission of a recommendation. Barker already had a DSO and Bar, an MC and two Bars, a Croix-de-Guerre, and an Italian Silver Medal for Valour. The pilots at 201 didn't like Barker much, and weren't very happy to see him get the VC - after all they were fighting the war in older Camels, when he had a Snipe, and he was not a full member of the squadron. Leman and Barker were friends from 1916 and Corps Cooperation activities. Barker did say in a January 1919 interview that he had been careless and had tangled with about 15 enemy fighters that morning. That is the only comment he offered to anybody about the specifics of what had happened. Journalists had a habit of asking him about it, and he would chuckle in an easygoing way and say, "Well, its all down in the Gazette. Go read that - I have nothing to add..."