Transcriptions:
Born in England during an air raid in the last war, the Barons came to Canada when Wallie was a year and a half old. Graduating from Pickering College in 1935 he joined the Royal Air Force in December 1936 and was an instructor when war broke out. Wallie was put on reconnaissance and later moved to France where he took on active part in the evacuation of Dunkirk.
Details of how or where Wallie was have not been disclosed. Wallie’s mother Mrs. Barton now resides in Guelph. His brother was killed in airplane accident in the early part of the war.
‘All But Job On Hand Dim’ When Flier Chases Nazi
Flight-Lieut. Wallace Barton Stresses Superiority of British Planes—Lindsay Flier Awarded D.F.C. for Heroic Reconnaissance Work.
Every word in reports of greatly outnumbered Spitfires and Hurricanes tackling flights of German bombers and fighter planes is true. This statement comes from Flight-Lieut. Walace Barton of the R.A.F. who until a few weeks ago was in France fighting doggedly night and day against heavy odds.
Reward for his heroic service as commander of a reconnaissance flight attached to B.E.F. is the Distinguished Flying Cross, highest award in the air service and third highest in any service. He was at his home in Lindsay on leave because of the sudden death of his father when advised of the decoration last night.
“When you get up there and you are after a Nazi or he is after you, everything in the world but the job on hand goes dim,” he said. “There’s no particular sensation. I got a thrill, of course, but our minds seemed to be filled with the one thought. It’s a job that has to be done.”
“Our planes were frequently fired on and we were showered with bullets. In fact, the pilot who could show bullet holes, or marks, nearest to where he was sitting, received a prize from the boys. We were invariably outnumbered two to five and greater and generally accounted for one or two or more of the German planes.
Better in Every Way
“Our men and planes and equipment are better than the enemy in every day,” he declared. ”The Germans know it, too, because in France, at least, they never flew singly. Always there were at least six machines in a flight.
News that he had been decorated cam as a “very pleasant surprise,” he confessed. “There are many fine chaps who deserve it more than I,” he added.
In Several Dogfights
“We were attacked scores of times,” he said. “The Germans don’t like reconnaissance machines. We are the eyes of the air force and the army, and because of this, are marked for special attention.
“I got mixed in several dogfights, over Belgium and during the evacuation of Dunkirk, but I never managed to bag anything. I was exceptionally fortunate in having good pilots and airmen in my flight for none of us were shot down or wounded.
Despite the job that had to be done in France and the endless, nerve-shattering hours of flying it entailed, all the R.A.F. eagerly welcomed the action after “months of doing nothing,” Flight-Lieut. Barton said.
The young officer was born in England in 1918: He was brought to Canada the following year by his parents. Educated at Pickering College. He joined the Victoria and Haliburton Regiment. In 1936 he went to England and enlisted in the R.A.F. An older brother, Lieut. Russell Barton. was killed a year ago in England in the crash of a bomber.
Flight-Lieutenant Barton has received word that he is to receive an appointment in some part of Canada, as a training representative of the R.A.F.
This morning a friend of the family said: "Wally's mother and wife are delighted over the honour. It is not known whether the decoration will take place in Buckingham Palace, by the King, or at Ottawa, by the governor-general."
November 11, 1942
W. BARTON PROMOTED TO COMMANDER
Former Lindsay Boy Given Responsible Post in R.A.F.—Has Seen Much Action
Mrs. Albert Barton of Guelph, and formerly of Lindsay, recently received word by cable that her son, Wallace S. Barton, Squadron Leader in the Royal Air Force, has been promoted to Wing Commander.
Although only twenty-four years old, Wing Commander W. S. Barton, D.F.C., has seen much fighting since the R.A.F. squadron to which he was attached was sent to France in September 1939. He was engaged through the Battle of Flanders and Dunkirk. It was after that action he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Shortly afterward he was granted compassionate leave and came back to Canada for a brief period. For the last year he has been in action overseas, and now has the exceedingly responsible post of Wing Commander.
The success of this young flier will be grateful information to the local friends of himself and the members of his family. His father was head of Knitters Limited, here. His brother, Russell, also of the RA.F., was killed just before war started, in a plane crash in England.
August 10,1943
Squadron Leader Wallie Barton Is Missing
Was Well Known Here. Opened Lindsay Fair
News that Sqdn.-Ldr. Wallace Barton is missing causes much concern in Lindsay. Many people will remember that Wallie opened the Lindsay Fair in the year 1940. After winning the D.F.C. for gallantry during the evacuation of Dunkirk Wallie was loaned to Canada for a short time and it was during that time that he opened the Fair.
April 28,1944
GUELPH D.F.C. WINNER IS PRESUMED DEAD
Second in Family to Pay Supreme
Sacrifice—Mother to Go to England
Guelph, April 28 (Special) — Mrs. A Barton, 115 Arthur St., Guelph, has been notified by officers of the RAF that her son, Wing Commander W. S. Barton, D.F.C., missing since last July, is now presumed dead.
The message received by Mrs. Barton states that nothing has been heard of the plane or any members of its 10-men crew since it sent out a message that it was under attack by the enemy.
Wing Commander Barton is the second member of his family to pay the supreme sacrifice in the present war, a brother, Pilot Officer Russell Barton, having been killed shortly after the war broke out.
Shortly afterwards, the father, Albert Barton, died, and at the present time Mrs. Barton is living alone here, awaiting permission from the proper authorities to join relatives in Britain. She has no immediate relatives in Canada.
