Lt. Colonel William George Barker--A hero's hero -- Then, there is Ombudsman Yves Cote & Toronto's "Gentility"

Canadian William Barker was a humble Manitoba farm boy who joined the British air corps during World War 1. His skill potential as a future flying ace was recognized almost immediately. By 1917, he had amassed 37 kills and was brought back to Canada as a war hero--and given a commission as a major. He had been given the DSO, the DFC, with two silver bars, the Italian air medal, and the highest French decoration. And of course he was used to pump up war bonds for the government. In early l918 Barker was returned to England, but only as a flight instructor. He was by then far too valuable to lose in combat. Barker was, of course, too headstrong to accept such an anti-climactic position, so demanded that he be allowed to fly in France to "keep my skills up". The military brass gave in and granted him ten days there. For the entire time, the weather grounded his Sopwith Camel, denying him anymore kills. On the final day he was ordered back to England to commence his flight instruction duties; however, as he approached the English Channel he disobeyed orders and flew back into battle.

There he learned that the tactics had indeed changed. As he descended on what he thought was a small squadron of German planes, destroying one, he flew into a lower staggered level of sixty German fighters. They riddled his plane with bullets, wounding his left hand and leg, plus completely shooting off his elbow. Still he managed to shoot down two more Germans; then when he had run out of bullets, he steered his plane headlong into a two-seater, thereby forcing it to go into a tailspin and crash. By sheer will he stayed awake enough to crash his plane behind friendly lines.

Despite disobeying orders, his exploits which were observed by 50,000 Canadian troops on the ground, gave him the Victoria Cross. After the war, he and the other great Canadian ace, Billy Bishop, set up a flying school in Toronto. He married a milllionaire's daughter, developed a drinking problem and, like Buzz Beurling, the greatest Canadian WW11 ace, died while taking off on a new aerial adventure. He was 35. By that time the latest Canadian version of "Who's Who" had dropped his name from their list. Much as Buzz Buerling was never forgiven for being a ruthless aviator, so was Barker. The evidence of elitist Canada's discomfort with true warriors was evident even then. However, the common people remembered and 50,000 people turned out for his funeral. God bless the Wiliam George Barkers.

© Bud Talkinghorn--And God bless Steve Fonyo as well. Another forgotten Canadian hero.

I believe Fonyo offended against political correctness (Did he drink? Or something else?) and of course, he didn't look blue-eyed blonde as the lad who is remembered so fondly, a hero, but surely we have room for more than one? NJC



And then there is . . .

The ghost of Howard Wilson

It turns out that the only man the military brass could find to be the ombudsman for the rank and file soldier is Yves Cote, who used to be the representative counsel for the generals and senior Defense Department staff. Rather like Mr. Shapiro, the so-called Ethic Commissioner, only being able to pick a prominent Liberal law firm to get to the bottom of the Sgro affair. Cote was the council for the senior officers and politicians at the time of the Somalian inquest, which Chretien closed down just as it was about to implicate *** in the scandal. There is not much certainty in life, but the Liberals' never-ending attempts to bamboozle Canadians can be guaranteed.

© Bud Talkinghorn




And I thought Vancouver was the politically correct capital of Canada

Toronto city hall refused to let Nathie Glebova, Miss Universe and a Toronto citizen, appear at the Thai food festival in Nathan Square. This is because the loonie tunes councillors have decreed that "anything that suggests degrading women/men, or sexual stereotyping" must be banned from support. A bikini contest earlier was also banned. However, city hall just loves the annual gay parade and supports it fully, eventhough the parade has nudity--full and semi--guys flashing their asses, and hideous lampooning of womanhood. By the way, isn't indecent exposure against the law, or is that law reserved for heterosexuals only? How do we spell hypocrisy?

© Bud Talkinghorn

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