RAF Sergeant Thomas Barker, BEM World War Two Diary 1941 to 1943 introduced and transcribed by Lawrence M. Barker       . content: Lawrence M, Barker © 2004 editing: my-malta.com © 2004 Website designed for '800x600' pixel or '1024x768'px viewing. Introduction to Sgt. Thomas Barker’s Wartime Malta Diaries 1941-1943 The son of a coalminer, Thomas Barker was born in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, England on 27 May, 1915. He lived a fairly hard life as a youngster during the years of the great depression. He was an intelligent but street-wise youngster with an amazing mental ability for mathematics and a passion for record keeping, both of which he put to good use throughout his life, right through to his death on 18 February, 2002, at the age of 86 years. He was a keen swimmer (holder of the ‘Royal Life Saving Society’ Bronze Medallion) and footballer, activities which he continued to pursue during his service period both in England and also whilst overseas in Malta. Thomas Barker (on left) and his brother Howard "Howk" (2nd right), ca.1926 Thomas Barker left Burslem Central Boys’ School, Stoke-On-Trent, with a First Class Pass in the Advanced Commercial Course Examination at the age of 15 years. He was destined to be an articled accountant but instead opted for the outdoor life taking various jobs around Stoke-on-Trent, ending up as a Driver Salesman for the Midland Banana Co., Broad Street, Hanley, just prior to enlisting in the Royal Air Force at the age of 20 on 2 March, 1936. Over the next few years he was to train as a Flight Mechanic and Fitter II(E), working on such aircraft engines as the Kestrel VI, Pegasus II & Pegasus XXX, Taurus II & Taurus XXII and Rolls Royce Merlin. Prior to the outbreak of war he spent time with 3 Wing Henlow, 604 Fighter Squadron Hendon and 38 Bomber Squadron Marham, where he first met his wife-to-be, Margery Churchman. 1940 was a busy year for the young Thomas Barker as a qualified Fitter II(E) holding the rank of L.A.C. He married Margery (Margo) on 30 March, 1940, at Swaffham, Norfolk and spent much of the year on secondment to the Fleet Air Arm, stationed in England at Gosport and at various F.A.A. camps such as Pool Lee, Puckpool, M.U.(A) Gosport, 827 Squadron Yeovilton, 'X' Squadron Lee, 828 Squadron at RNAS Crail and finally, prior to his service in Malta, with HQ Unit 830 Squadron. His overseas service with the RAF began on 12 September, 1941.   He embarked on HMS “Kenya” bound for Malta, where he arrived at Valletta Harbour on 27-28 September, 1941. Whilst in Malta he served on secondment with 828 (TSR) Albacore Squadron Fleet Air Arm at Hal Far and was awarded the British Empire Medal (Military Division) in recognition of distinguished service there on 5 December, 1942.   The award was presented to him by General Gort, V.C. at the Investiture in Valletta on Saturday 24 April, 1943. Sgt. Thomas Barker's Wartime Malta Diaries consist of two soft-back service issue pocket notebooks with daily handwritten entries (apart from some batched entries when the threat to Malta eased later in 1943). The entries commenced on his departure from HMS “Kenya” and the Stoker P.O.'s Mess in Valletta on 28 September, 1941, and ended with the final entry on arrival back in 'Blighty' on board the Dutch ship “RUYS”, on 8 October, 1943. CLICK photo to enlarge and view diary The diary entries tell of his everyday life as an RAF Sergeant of No. 828 Squadron, Hal Far, in charge of a mixed party of naval ratings responsible for maintaining and arming a squadron of Fleet Air Arm torpedo spotter reconnaissance (TSR) Albacore aircraft to ensure their serviceability to carry out air strikes, under extreme conditions of bombardment during the defence of Malta. The Squadron's key role was to attack enemy shipping whilst underway at sea, but they also engaged shore-based targets mainly in Sicily. Other entries give an insight into his despair and torments – his mental anguish of suffering from 'shell-shock' and the lighter moments of playing tombola and socialising with comrades from the various ships which docked at Valetta. A separate account entitled "Surrender of The Italian Fleet" has been transcribed from his handwritten Log-Book of a 'Special Secret Mission' he was engaged in just prior to his departure from Malta. This secret mission was to meet part of the Italian Fleet at Zonga Point and to sail with them to their anchorage and surrender outside St Thomas's Bay. Back in England Sgt. Thomas Barker returned to Lee-on-Solent with HMS “Condor” and HGCU. The following year, 1944, he was promoted to the rank of Flight-Sergeant with security authorisation to examine British and Allied Aircraft at RAF Station North Luffenham. During his service with the Royal Air Force he was awarded the following:- British Empire Medal Africa Star & Rosette 1939/45 Star Italy Star War Medal Defence Medal click the photo to open a new window Flt. Sgt. Thomas Barker was released from the Royal Air Force on 30 October, 1945, with his final discharge by reason of appointment to the Air Training Corps Commission on 6 November, 1953. He commenced duty the following day with 1894 (Swaffham) Squadron A.T.C. as Pilot-Officer RAFVR(T). He was well known for his long-range marksmanship with a rifle and was certificated by the RAF to conduct Long Range Practices with .303 rifles up to 600 yards. By 1957 he had been promoted to Officer-Commanding 1894 (Swaffham) Squadron with the rank of Flight-Lieutenant RFVR(T). On 27 July, 1971, he resigned his commission in the Training Branch of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, but retained his ties with them, since by 23 January, 1976, Flt. Lt. Thomas Barker BEM, RAFVR(T)(Ret) was elected Chairman of 1894 (Swaffham) Squadron Committee until his final retirement from service life the following year. For his nearly 18 years’ service with the RAFVR(T) he was awarded the Cadet Forces Medal. In civilian life, following release from the Royal Air Force, he qualified as a school-teacher at Peterborough Training College on 13 April, 1947, and became an Associate of The College of Preceptors on 2 October, 1950. His specialisation was in teaching handicraft (woodwork & metalwork), a profession he continued until his retirement in 1980. His wife Margery, who had seen service during WW2 with the National Fire Service and had been a School Secretary during her civilian career, died on 24 May, 1977, at the age of 56 years. Lawrence M. Barker about the author    . Very Important: All information found in this website is provided in bona fide, hence no liability whatsoever can be accepted by or attributed to the author/s of this chapter or my-malta.com for any claims and/or consequences arising from information appearing herein.

Lawrence Barker was born at 4 Church Walk, Swaffham, Norfolk, England in 1946. He was the second son of his parents, Margery and Thomas Barker - a student teacher at the time.

On leaving Swaffham Hamond's Grammar School in 1964, he commenced his career in Local Government, initially qualifying as a Public Health Engineer specialising in the design and construction of sewerage schemes, sewage treatment works and pumping stations and then as an Environmental Manager. The last 12 years of his career up to taking early retirement in 2001, were spent as a Direct Services Manager of an organisation operating Local Authority contracts for buildings maintenance, grounds maintenance and street cleansing work.

Married with a daughter, 3 step-children and a growing number of grand-children, his hobbies include both practical microscopy using modern equipment, and the history of microscopy through his own private collection of antique and collectable instruments. When time permits he can be heard on the amateur radio airwaves, in morse code as call-sign G4TJY.