Thomas Barkell

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Thomas Henry Barkell
Born1892
Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
Died1945[1]
Chatswood, New South Wales, Australia
AllegianceAustralia
Service/branchAustralian Flying Corps
Years of service1916–1919
RankLieutenant
UnitNo. 3 Squadron AFC
No. 4 Squadron AFC
Battles/warsWorld War I
 • Western Front
AwardsDistinguished Flying Cross

Lieutenant Thomas Henry Barkell DFC (1892–1945) was an Australian flying ace of the First World War, credited with seven aerial victories.[2]

Military service

No. 3 Squadron AFC

Barkell worked as a

air mechanic 2nd class when the squadron arrived in England on 29 December[5] aboard HMAT A38 Ulysses.[6] His squadron was based at South Carlton, Lincolnshire, engaged in flying training with Avro 504 and B.E.2e two-seater aircraft.[6] In February 1917 flying duty was opened to the rank and file; six positions for aerial gunners ranked as NCO observers were offered, and over 100 applications (more than half the squadron's other ranks) were received. Six men were eventually selected, of whom Barkell was one.[7] He was promoted to sergeant and posted to the No. 1 School of Aerial Gunnery in Hythe, Kent, for training.[8] In mid-August the squadron finally began to move to France, the first Australian flying squadron to see service on the Western Front, based at Savy,[9] to support the Canadian and XIII Corps front near Arras.[6]

R.E.8 of No. 3 Squadron, AFC

In late September Barkell, began flying reconnaissance patrols in the R.E.8 aircraft with which the squadron was equipped.[10] Poor weather at the beginning of October kept his squadron grounded, but later in the month Barkell was flying again, reporting the positions of enemy artillery.[11] In mid-November the squadron moved to a new base at Bailleul to support the Australian Corps, mainly carrying out photographic reconnaissance, but also offensive patrols. On 14 November Barkell was one of four Observer NCO's graded as Qualified Aerial Gunners. However, around dawn on 24 November he was flying with Lieutenant K. A. Roberts on a reconnaissance mission when their aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire. Barkell was shot in the left ankle, and their aircraft overturned on landing. Both men were sent to No. 2 (Australian) Casualty Clearing Station for treatment.[12][13]

No. 4 Squadron AFC

Sopwith Camel

Having recovered from his injuries, Barkell then trained to become a pilot, being posted to the No. 2 School of Military Aeronautics as a

Serny,[17] and on 3 October received its first six Sopwith Snipes, eventually replacing all their Camels by the 19th.[18]

Sopwith Snipe of No. 4 Squadron AFC

On 5 October 1918 a recommendation for the award of the

gazetted
on 3 December 1918. His citation read:

Second Lieutenant Thomas Harry Barkell, Australian Flying Corps.
"Although this officer only joined his squadron some two months ago, his outstanding ability soon qualified him for the leadership of a patrol; and he has already acted as leader in twenty-three offensive flights. His conduct of these patrols, and the results he has achieved, testify to his exceptional enterprise, and fully justifies his early appointment to the responsible position of leader."[22]

On 9 October, Barkell attacked an observation balloon west of Douai, seeing the crew parachute to safety while the balloon was set on fire.[23] On 26 October, he was a member of a patrol that attacked a formation of enemy biplanes east of Tournai, and was credited with shooting down two. However, he was also wounded in the leg, sent to No. 5 Casualty Clearing Station, and on 27 October was written off the strength of No. 4 Squadron.[18]

List of aerial victories

Combat record[2]
No. Date/Time Aircraft/
Serial No. 		Opponent Result Location
1 7 September 1918
@ 0700		 Sopwith Camel
(F1415)		 LVG C Destroyed Hénin-Beaumont
2 16 September 1918
@ 0820		 Sopwith Camel
(E7191)		 Fokker D.VII Destroyed Frelinghien
3 22 September 1918
@ 0820		 Sopwith Camel
(E7191)		 Fokker D.VII Out of control East of Armentières
4 Fokker D.VII Out of control Armentières
5 9 October 1918
@ 0955		 Sopwith Snipe
(E8052)		 Balloon Destroyed West of Douai
6 26 October 1918
@ 1545		 Sopwith Snipe
(E8032)		 Fokker D.VII Destroyed in flames East of Tournai
7 Fokker D.VII Out of control

Post-war career

Barkell eventually returned to Australia on 7 February 1919,

Air Navigation Act of 1920 when he was fined £5 in July 1922 for flying while his license was suspended.[24] He was also involved in two accidents; in May 1922 he suffered an engine failure while conducting flights at Bulli Park and had to make a forced landing on Sandon Point,[25] and in January 1923 he crashed an aircraft belonging to the Australian Aircraft and Engineering Company at Cronulla, breaking his toe.[26]

See also

References

  1. ^ Australia, Death Index, 1787–1985
  2. ^ a b c d "Thomas Henry Barkell". The Aerodrome. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  3. ^ "Thomas Henry Barkell's Attestation Paper". The Aerodrome. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  4. ^ "No. 2 Squadron AFC Nominal Roll – October 1916". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  5. ^ "No. 3 Squadron AFC Nominal Roll of Other Ranks – 29 December 1916" (PDF). Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  6. ^ a b c "No. 3 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps". Australian War Memorial. 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  7. ^ "No. 3 Squadron AFC War Diary – February 1917" (PDF). Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  8. ^ "Airman Observer". The Daily Examiner. Vol. 5, no. 628. Grafton, New South Wales. 23 July 1917. p. 3. Retrieved 6 June 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "No. 3 Squadron AFC War Diary – August 1917" (PDF). Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  10. ^ "No. 3 Squadron AFC War Diary – September 1917 (Part 1)" (PDF). Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  11. ^ "No. 3 Squadron AFC War Diary – September 1917 (Part 2)" (PDF). Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  12. ^ "No. 3 Squadron AFC War Diary – November 1917" (PDF). Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  13. ^ "The Roll of Honour: Wounded". Flight. X (472): 38. 10 January 1918. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  14. ^ "No. 3 Squadron AFC War Diary – February 1918" (PDF). Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  15. ^ "No. 4 Squadron AFC War Diary – August 1918 (Part 3)" (PDF). Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  16. ^ "No. 4 Squadron AFC War Diary – August 1918 (Part 2)" (PDF). Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  17. ^ "No. 4 Squadron AFC War Diary – September 1918 (Part 1)". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  18. ^ a b "No. 4 Squadron AFC War Diary – October 1918 (Part 1)" (PDF). Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  19. ^ "Recommendation for DFC" (PDF). Australian War Memorial. 5 October 1918. p. 1. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  20. ^ "Recommendation for DFC" (PDF). Australian War Memorial. 5 October 1918. p. 2. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  21. ^ "Approval for DFC" (PDF). Australian War Memorial. 10 October 1918. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  22. ^ "No. 31046". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 November 1918. p. 14318.
  23. ^ "No. 4 Squadron AFC War Diary – October 1918 (Part 3)" (PDF). Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  24. ^ "Air Navigation: Pilot Before Court". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 26382. Sydney, New South Wales. 26 July 1922. p. 12. Retrieved 6 June 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  25. ^ "Engine Fails: Aviator's Narrow Escape". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 26333. Sydney, New South Wales. 30 May 1922. p. 7. Retrieved 6 June 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  26. Broken Hill, New South Wales
    . 3 January 1923. p. 3. Retrieved 6 June 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
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