Territory Stories
Leonard Arthur Barton
Details:
Title
Leonard Arthur Barton,
Name
Leonard Arthur Barton,
Also known as
Barton, Leonard Arthur,
Collection
WWII Roll of Honour,
HistoryNT,
Second World War, 1939-1945,
Date
0000-00-00,
Place of birth
Rainbow (Vic.),
Date of birth
1910-11-13,
Place of enlistment
Melbourne (Vic.),
Date of enlistment
1940-08-30,
Occupation
Motor machanic,
Nation of service
Australia,
Service
Royal Australian Air Force,
Unit
RAAF Base Darwin,
Rank
Leading Aircraftman,
Service number
18368,
Next of kin
Marjorie Stewart Barton - Wife,
Date of death
1942-02-19,
Place of death
RAAF Base Darwin,
Place of burial
Adelaide River War Cemetery, G.C.1,
Memorial
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour,
Rainbow War Memorial,
Cultural heritage
Australian,
Biographical notes
Leading Aircraftman Leonard Arthur Barton (18368) was born on 13 November 1910 in Rainbow, Victoria to Arthur Bernard John Barton and Sophia May Wykes. Leonard was the eldest of seven children. His siblings were George Edward, Phyllis Sophia, Noel Robert, John Charles, Maxwell William and Margaret Ariel. Leonard's grandparents, Caroline and Charles Edward Barton, had originally moved to Rainbow in 1904, establishing a building and undertaking business. The family business was inherited by Leonard's father, Arthur, who went on to build the Post Office, the State School, the Eureka Hotel and numerous buildings and homes across Rainbow and the surrounding district.
Leonard was educated at Rainbow Primary and High Schools between 14 September 1915 and 13 November 1924, registration number 302. He later married Marjorie Stewart on 9 October 1932, fathering three children, Betty Joan, Robert Leonard and Denis Arthur. He lived with his family at Winifred Street in Rainbow and worked as a motor mechanic and fitter for 10 years, including managing his own business for six years in Taverner Street.
Tragically, Barton's oldest son Robert also lost his life at an early age; at sixteen he was killed in a shooting accident while holidaying with family friends on 13 March 1951. His second son, Denis, became a carpenter and remained living in Rainbow, Victoria, until recently.
Compiled with the assistance of Denis (son) and Helen Barton, Betty Ellis (daughter), Craig Adams (grandson), Dawn Petschel (Rainbow archivist) and Joan Douglas.,
History
Barton enlisted in Melbourne on 30 August 1940 and was described as 'being of steady habits and honest'. Initially serving at No. 1 Aircraft Depot (RAAF) at Laverton, he was later transferred to RAAF Station Headquarters Darwin on 16 March 1941. He was serving as a Fitter in Driver Motor Transport when Darwin was bombed on 19 February 1942.
The only aerial defence during the bombing was provided by a squadron of Kittyhawks from the 33rd Pursuit Squadron USAAF. Led by Major Floyd Pell, the Kittyhawks had just arrived back in Darwin after turning back from a flight to Koepang because of bad weather. Four pilots, including Major Pell, were killed as they fought bravely against the overwhelming number of Japanese Zeros. Seven RAAF Station personnel also died on the ground, including Leading Aircraftman Barton. Barton had jumped into a trench with Neaylon, Latham and Smith during the second raid. All four were killed instantly when their trench received a direct hit. Barton was thirty-one years old. Buildings and facilities on the airfield were also severely damaged but the base continued to operate throughout the war.,
Notes
Metadata: Attribution International 4.0 (CC-BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 ,
Photo of Leading Aircraftman Leonard Arthur Barton (18368) from Betty Ellis (daughter), Public Domain.,
Language
English,
Subject
Second World War, 1939-1945,
Bombing of Darwin,
Roll of Honour,
Northern Territory history,
Airforce,
File type
image/jpeg,
Use
No known copyright,
Copyright owner
Ellis, Betty (daughter),
License
https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/pubic-domain/pdm ,
Related links
https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/619253 [Leonard Arthur Barton] ,
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1263279 [Informal portrait of 18369 Leading Aircraftman Leonard Arthur Barton, Station Headquarters] ,
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2250519/LEONARD%20ARTHUR%20BARTON/ [Commonwealth War Graves] ,
https://vwma.org.au/explore/memorials/1797 [Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour] ,
https://vwma.org.au/explore/memorials/3379 [Rainbow War Memorial] ,
https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=4239410 [National Archives of Australia] ,
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/842078 [StoryNT : Leonard Arthur Barton and family] ,
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/842075 [StoryNT : Leonard Arthur Barton] ,
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/842072 [StoryNT : Leonard Arthur Barton's obituary] ,
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/842070 [StoryNT : Leonard Arthur Barton - grave stone] ,
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/842066 [StoryNT : Leonard Arthur Barton - first burial site] ,
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/842062 [StoryNT : Leonard Arthur Barton - commemorative scroll] ,
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/842051 [StoryNT : Leonard Arthur Barton with his children] ,
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/842044 [StoryNT : Leonard Arthur Barton's grave] ,
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/842040 [StoryNT : Leonard Arthur Barton] ,
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/842029 [StoryNT : Leonard Arthur Barton] ,
https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/619253 [Leonard Arthur Barton] ,
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1263279 [Informal portrait of 18369 Leading Aircraftman Leonard Arthur Barton, Station Headquarters] ,
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2250519/LEONARD%20ARTHUR%20BARTON/ [Commonwealth War Graves] ,
https://vwma.org.au/explore/memorials/1797 [Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour] ,
https://vwma.org.au/explore/memorials/3379 [Rainbow War Memorial] ,
https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=4239410 [National Archives of Australia] ,
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/842078 [StoryNT : Leonard Arthur Barton and family] ,
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/842075 [StoryNT : Leonard Arthur Barton] ,
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/842072 [StoryNT : Leonard Arthur Barton's obituary] ,
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/842070 [StoryNT : Leonard Arthur Barton - grave stone] ,
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/842066 [StoryNT : Leonard Arthur Barton - first burial site] ,
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/842062 [StoryNT : Leonard Arthur Barton - commemorative scroll] ,
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/842051 [StoryNT : Leonard Arthur Barton with his children] ,
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/842044 [StoryNT : Leonard Arthur Barton's grave] ,
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/842040 [StoryNT : Leonard Arthur Barton] ,
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/842029 [StoryNT : Leonard Arthur Barton] ,
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/844924 [WWII Military Units : RAAF Base Darwin] ,
Parent handle
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/839209 ,
Citation address
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/840323
Territory Stories
Leonard Arthur Barton
Details:
Title
Leonard Arthur Barton,
Name
Leonard Arthur Barton,
Also known as
Barton, Leonard Arthur,
Collection
WWII Roll of Honour,
HistoryNT,
Second World War, 1939-1945,
Date
0000-00-00,
Place of birth
Rainbow (Vic.),
Date of birth
1910-11-13,
Place of enlistment
Melbourne (Vic.),
Date of enlistment
1940-08-30,
Occupation
Motor machanic,
Nation of service
Australia,
Service
Royal Australian Air Force,
Unit
RAAF Base Darwin,
Rank
Leading Aircraftman,
Service number
18368,
Next of kin
Marjorie Stewart Barton - Wife,
Date of death
1942-02-19,
Place of death
RAAF Base Darwin,
Place of burial
Adelaide River War Cemetery, G.C.1,
Memorial
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour,
Rainbow War Memorial,
Cultural heritage
Australian,
Biographical notes
Leading Aircraftman Leonard Arthur Barton (18368) was born on 13 November 1910 in Rainbow, Victoria to Arthur Bernard John Barton and Sophia May Wykes. Leonard was the eldest of seven children. His siblings were George Edward, Phyllis Sophia, Noel Robert, John Charles, Maxwell William and Margaret Ariel. Leonard's grandparents, Caroline and Charles Edward Barton, had originally moved to Rainbow in 1904, establishing a building and undertaking business. The family business was inherited by Leonard's father, Arthur, who went on to build the Post Office, the State School, the Eureka Hotel and numerous buildings and homes across Rainbow and the surrounding district.
Leonard was educated at Rainbow Primary and High Schools between 14 September 1915 and 13 November 1924, registration number 302. He later married Marjorie Stewart on 9 October 1932, fathering three children, Betty Joan, Robert Leonard and Denis Arthur. He lived with his family at Winifred Street in Rainbow and worked as a motor mechanic and fitter for 10 years, including managing his own business for six years in Taverner Street.
Tragically, Barton's oldest son Robert also lost his life at an early age; at sixteen he was killed in a shooting accident while holidaying with family friends on 13 March 1951. His second son, Denis, became a carpenter and remained living in Rainbow, Victoria, until recently.
Compiled with the assistance of Denis (son) and Helen Barton, Betty Ellis (daughter), Craig Adams (grandson), Dawn Petschel (Rainbow archivist) and Joan Douglas.,
History
Barton enlisted in Melbourne on 30 August 1940 and was described as 'being of steady habits and honest'. Initially serving at No. 1 Aircraft Depot (RAAF) at Laverton, he was later transferred to RAAF Station Headquarters Darwin on 16 March 1941. He was serving as a Fitter in Driver Motor Transport when Darwin was bombed on 19 February 1942.
The only aerial defence during the bombing was provided by a squadron of Kittyhawks from the 33rd Pursuit Squadron USAAF. Led by Major Floyd Pell, the Kittyhawks had just arrived back in Darwin after turning back from a flight to Koepang because of bad weather. Four pilots, including Major Pell, were killed as they fought bravely against the overwhelming number of Japanese Zeros. Seven RAAF Station personnel also died on the ground, including Leading Aircraftman Barton. Barton had jumped into a trench with Neaylon, Latham and Smith during the second raid. All four were killed instantly when their trench received a direct hit. Barton was thirty-one years old. Buildings and facilities on the airfield were also severely damaged but the base continued to operate throughout the war.,
Notes
Metadata: Attribution International 4.0 (CC-BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 ,
Photo of Leading Aircraftman Leonard Arthur Barton (18368) from Betty Ellis (daughter), Public Domain.,
Language
English,
Subject
Second World War, 1939-1945,
Bombing of Darwin,
Roll of Honour,
Northern Territory history,
Airforce,
File type
image/jpeg,
Use
No known copyright,
Copyright owner
Ellis, Betty (daughter),
License
https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/pubic-domain/pdm ,
Related links
https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/619253 [Leonard Arthur Barton] ,
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1263279 [Informal portrait of 18369 Leading Aircraftman Leonard Arthur Barton, Station Headquarters] ,
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2250519/LEONARD%20ARTHUR%20BARTON/ [Commonwealth War Graves] ,
https://vwma.org.au/explore/memorials/1797 [Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour] ,
https://vwma.org.au/explore/memorials/3379 [Rainbow War Memorial] ,
https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=4239410 [National Archives of Australia] ,
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/842078 [StoryNT : Leonard Arthur Barton and family] ,
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/842075 [StoryNT : Leonard Arthur Barton] ,
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/842072 [StoryNT : Leonard Arthur Barton's obituary] ,
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/842070 [StoryNT : Leonard Arthur Barton - grave stone] ,
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/842066 [StoryNT : Leonard Arthur Barton - first burial site] ,
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/842062 [StoryNT : Leonard Arthur Barton - commemorative scroll] ,
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/842051 [StoryNT : Leonard Arthur Barton with his children] ,
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/842044 [StoryNT : Leonard Arthur Barton's grave] ,
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/842040 [StoryNT : Leonard Arthur Barton] ,
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/842029 [StoryNT : Leonard Arthur Barton] ,
https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/619253 [Leonard Arthur Barton] ,
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1263279 [Informal portrait of 18369 Leading Aircraftman Leonard Arthur Barton, Station Headquarters] ,
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2250519/LEONARD%20ARTHUR%20BARTON/ [Commonwealth War Graves] ,
https://vwma.org.au/explore/memorials/1797 [Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour] ,
https://vwma.org.au/explore/memorials/3379 [Rainbow War Memorial] ,
https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=4239410 [National Archives of Australia] ,
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/842078 [StoryNT : Leonard Arthur Barton and family] ,
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/842075 [StoryNT : Leonard Arthur Barton] ,
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/842072 [StoryNT : Leonard Arthur Barton's obituary] ,
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/842070 [StoryNT : Leonard Arthur Barton - grave stone] ,
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/842066 [StoryNT : Leonard Arthur Barton - first burial site] ,
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/842062 [StoryNT : Leonard Arthur Barton - commemorative scroll] ,
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/842051 [StoryNT : Leonard Arthur Barton with his children] ,
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/842044 [StoryNT : Leonard Arthur Barton's grave] ,
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/842040 [StoryNT : Leonard Arthur Barton] ,
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/842029 [StoryNT : Leonard Arthur Barton] ,
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/844924 [WWII Military Units : RAAF Base Darwin] ,
Parent handle
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/839209 ,
Citation address
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/840323