Thomas Barkell

Thomas Henry Barkell
Born	1892 Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
Died	Unknown
Allegiance	Australia
Service/branch	Australian Flying Corps
Years of service	1916–1919
Rank	Lieutenant
Unit	No. 3 Squadron AFC No. 4 Squadron AFC
Battles/wars	World War I  • Western Front
Awards	Distinguished Flying Cross

Lieutenant Thomas Henry Barkell DFC (born 1892, date of death unknown) was an Australian flying ace of the First World War, credited with seven aerial victories.

Barkell worked as a motor mechanic in Sydney before enlisting into the Australian Flying Corps on 16 October 1916. He was posted to "B" Flight, No. 2 Squadron, (later renumbered No. 3 Squadron) as a private, but was regraded as an air mechanic 2nd class when the squadron arrived in England on 29 December aboard HMAT A38 Ulysses. His squadron was based at South Carlton, Lincolnshire, engaged in flying training with Avro 504 and B.E.2e two-seater aircraft. In February 1917 flying duty was opened to the rank and file; six positions for aerial gunners ranked as NCO observers were offered, and over 100 applications (more than half the squadron's other ranks) were received. Six men were eventually selected, of whom Barkell was one. He was promoted to sergeant and posted to the No. 1 School of Aerial Gunnery in Hythe, Kent, for training. In mid-August the squadron finally began to move to France, the first Australian flying squadron to see service on the Western Front, based at Savy, to support the Canadian and XIII Corps front near Arras.

In late September Barkell, began flying reconnaissance patrols in the R.E.8 aircraft with which the squadron was equipped. Poor weather at the beginning of October kept his squadron grounded, but later in the month Barkell was flying again, reporting the positions of enemy artillery. In mid-November the squadron moved to a new base at Bailleul to support the Australian Corps, mainly carrying out photographic reconnaissance, but also offensive patrols. On 14 November Barkell was one of four Observer NCO's graded as Qualified Aerial Gunners. However, around dawn on 24 November he was flying with Lieutenant K. A. Roberts on a reconnaissance mission when their aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire. Barkell was shot in the left ankle, and their aircraft overturned on landing. Both men were sent to No. 2 (Australian) Casualty Clearing Station for treatment.

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