LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Thomas Hugh BARCLAY
Service No: 430952
Born: Bowral NSW
Enlisted in the RAAF: 23 April 1943 (at Melbourne VIC)
Unit: No. 18 Squadron, Batchelor NT
Died: Air Operations: (No. 18 Squadron Mitchell aircraft N5-214), New Guinea, area 1 September 1944, Aged 19 Years
Buried: Ambon War Cemetery, Indonesia
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Thomas Hugh and Anne Elizabeth Barclay, of Warren, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Avoca VIC
Remembered: Panel 101, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Mitchell N5-214 is believed to have been hit by anti-aircraft fire over the target area in the Kai Islands as was observed to fall from about 10,000 feet to 5,000 feet, followed by an explosion after which debris was seen falling to the ground. There are reports that there may also have been a night fighter in the vicinity. A succeeding search reported an oil slick and a crater containing what appeared to be possible parts of an aircraft.
The crew members of N5-214 were:
Flight Sergeant Thomas Hugh Barclay (430952)
Lieutenant Donk (NEIAF)
Lieutenant Dreher (NEIAF) (Pilot)
Lieutenant Franken (NEIAF)
Lieutenant Lugt (NEIAF)
Lieutenant Marsman (NEIAF)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A9845, 24
Bibliography:
Hurst, D. (Doug) The Fourth Ally: The Dutch forces in Australia in WWII, Doug Hurst, Canberra, 2001