LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Harold Edward BARKLAY
Service No: 403119
Born: Newcastle NSW, 17 February 1916
Enlisted in the RAAF: 9 December 1940
Unit: No. 289 Squadron (RAF)
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 289 Squadron Hurricane aircraft P3101), Scotland, 8 December 1941, Aged 25 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Harold Arthur and Mabel Elizabeth Barklay, of Islington, New South Wales, Australia.
Roll of Honour: Newcastle NSW
Remembered: Panel 62, Runnymede Memorial, Surrey UK
Remembered: Panel 118, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Newcastle Boys High School Memorial Entrance World War II, Waratah NSW
On 8 December 1941 Hurricane P3101 crashed into the sea near Burn Island, Firth of Forth, Scotland, in a flying accident during an anti-aircraft cooperation exercise. After carrying out several runs over the anti-aircraft gun positions, the aircraft was seen to turn left and lose height. The engine appeared to fail and the pilot attempted a landing on a smooth stretch of water off Inchcolm Island, Firth of Forth. From a low level the aircraft dived into the sea apparently trapping the pilot. The body of the pilot was not recovered and it was subsequently recorded that Sergeant Barklay had lost his life at sea.
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 163/90/207
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line