A fine post-War 'Korean operations' O.B.E., Second War A.F.C., scarce combination group of...

A fine post-War ‘Korean operations’ O.B.E., Second War A.F.C., scarce combination group of ten awarded to Group Captain R. A. C. Barclay, Royal Air Force, a veteran of the North West Frontier who went on to have an extremely varied and eventful service career. Fluent in Japanese and already in situ in Singapore, Barclay was appointed Air Commodore S. F. Vincent’s SASO, and went with him to try and co-ordinate the air defence of Sumatra in January 1942. Outnumbered, outgunned and overwhelmed they literally found themselves with their faces in the dirt as Palembang Airstrip was strafed by the Japanese without mercy. Fighting a withdrawal, burning equipment in their wake, No. 226 Fighter Group made their escape as best they could - with Vincent and Barclay managing to evacuate to Java, and then Australia, on the Dutch Merchantman Zandaam. Returning to the UK, Barclay was appointed to the command of the newly reformed 166 Squadron in January 1943. He carried out a full tour of operations with them, flying Wellingtons to various night targets. Barclay ended his service as an Air Attaché during the Korean War The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 2nd type, breast badge, silver-gilt; Air Force Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1945’; India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1935 (F/O. R. A. C. Barclay. R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Pacific Star, traces of verdigris; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Korea 1950-53, 1st issue (Gp. Cpt. R. A. C. Barclay. R.A.F.); U.N. Korea 1950-54, unnamed as issued, mounted on card for display, generally good very fine (10) £2,000-£3,000 --- Provenance: Buckland Dix & Wood, September 1994. O.B.E. London Gazette 1 June 1953. A.F.C. London Gazette 1 January 1945. The original recommendation states: ‘On completing his operational tour in June 1943, this officer was employed as Chief Instructor at Lichfield. By constant hard work involving long hours daily and a considerable amount of flying, he was largely responsible for bringing his Unit up to its present high standard. He has exercised careful supervision over the flying, having flown with pupils and instructors, and the accident rate has improved considerably. He now commands a very fine O.T.U. [30 O.T.U., Bomber Command] and has shown himself to be an excellent leader who has set a good example both as a pilot and instructor.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 8 June 1944. Ronald Alan Campbell Barclay was born in East Bergholt, Suffolk in July 1911. He entered the Royal Air Force as a Cranwell Cadet in December 1932, and having passed out Barclay advanced to Flight Officer in June 1934, and to Flight Lieutenant in October 1936. Barclay served as a Pilot in the General Duties Branch, serving with 39 Squadron at Risalpur from February 1933, and 27 Squadron at Kohat, March 1935 - April 1936. Barclay returned to the UK, and was posted to 1 A.A.C. Co-op Unit, Biggin Hill in August 1936, before being posted for Special Duties, Japan (Language Studies) in April 1938. Barclay advanced to Squadron Leader in August 1939, and to Temporary Wing Commander in September 1941. He was posted to Singapore, and was selected as Senior Air Staff Officer to Air Commodore S. F. Vincent (later Air Vice Marshal), when the latter arrived in Singapore, 29 January 1942. These two officers, and a few others, were ordered to fly to Sumatra the following day. Vincent and Barclay were tasked with forming No. 226 Fighter Group (the combined Commonwealth fighter formation, No. 226 Group, which had only two Hurricane squadrons, along with the remnants of Brewster Buffalo units, at Palembang, Sumatra.) in order help defend Sumatra. This defence was short-lived, with the P1 airfield at Palembang coming under constant attack - an example of which occurred on 7 February 1942: ‘Air Commodore Vincent and his SASO, Wg Cdr Ron Barclay, found themselves caught in the open, as the latter recalled: “P1 was a very easy target and I remember Air Commodore Vincent and myself flattening ourselves in the sticky orange-coloured mud in the middle of the airstrip, while a Japanese rear-gunner casually sprayed the field.” The Hurricanes had again suffered, as noted by Vincent: “Once again the warning came late, and once again the inexperienced pilots found the Japanese more than a match.” (Bloody Shambles: The First Comprehensive Account of Air Operations Over South-East Asia December 1941 - May 1942, by C. Shores and B. Cull with Y. Izawa refers) Outnumbered and poorly-equipped Commonwealth and Dutch units fought a losing battle against overwhelming enemy forces and both Vincent and Barclay were evacuated by boat to Java, 15 February 1942: ‘Throughout the day evacuation of Palembang continued. In the morning, Grp Capt Darly had collected 30 armed men, setting up guards each side of the river and actually on the ferry boat, their presence persuading the local crew to keep working. Gradually everyone got across and, by evening, the evacuation was all but complete. Darley carried out a last swift tour of the town to make sure all were gone and then, withdrawing the guards, crossed on the last ferry with Air Commodore Vincent, following the others to P2. The town was left blazing and under a great pall of smoke from the burning refineries. No sooner had P2 been reached than the order was given to begin evacuating this base, all personnel not involved in operating and maintaining the aircraft being ordered to Oosthaven, 300 miles away on the south-eastern tip of Sumatra, for trans-shipment to Java. With Vincent and Darley was Wg Cdr Barclay: “I travelled by car, with Air Commodore Vincent and others, from P1 to Oosthaven via P2 but, armed as we were, sighted no Jap paratroopers. We reached Oosthaven at 0300 and, at dawn, jettisoned our Buick in the harbour and embarked for Java.” (Ibid) The Japanese advance continued, and it became obvious that it could not be contained. Whilst the bombers could fly to Australia, the fighters did not have the range and had to fight to the last as a consequence. The order was given to burn all equipment and grounded aircraft. Vincent and his staff were ordered to make their escape as best they could, and they managed to do so on the Dutch Merchantman Zandaam, 28 February 1942. Originally bound for Ceylon, they were re-routed to Freemantle, Australian. They were fortunate to make it, with most ships being torpedoed just off the harbour. Barclay eventually returned to the UK, and was appointed to the command of the newly reformed 166 Squadron (Wellingtons) at Kirmington in January 1943. Barclay carried out a tour of operations with the Squadron, including leading them on their first sortie - minelaying, 27/28 January 1943. The remainder of his operational tour was spent flying in a similar capacity, as well as carrying out night bombing raids on various targets. Subsequent postings included at 27 O.T.U., Lichfield from July 1943 (awarded A.F.C.), and 30 O.T.U., Hixton from May 1944. Barclay served as Station Commander at R.A.F. Ricall, February - May 1945, was promoted Wing Commander in October 1946, and then to Acting Group Captain, in which rank he retired in September 1954. Barclay served during the Korean War in the Office of the Air Adviser, United Kingdom Liaison Mission in Japan, British Embassy, Tokyo and as a Air Attaché in Seoul, Korea, January 1950 - February 1953. Group Captain Barclay died in May 1994. Sold with copied research.