Historical information

In 1939 when World War 11 erupted Jim and Horace enlisted in the RAAF Jim to become a pilot and Horace a navigator. James Edward Barrie enlisted in the RAAF on 21st June 1941, aged 19 years. He was sent to Canada and then later to England to become a Spitfire Pilot. Half way through the War he returned to Australia to be sent north to fight the Japanese. At one stage he had to bail out over the Pacific after his engine had failed. Fortunately, he had time to radio his position before he abandoned his Spitfire. He dropped his boot out to determine how far below the water was, parachuted down inflated his dinghy and waited to be rescued. He was picked up very quickly by a rescue crew just as a heavy fog descended, or he may never have been found.

He lost many of his mates in that Squadron in the Pacific, it was a particularly vital time for the Allies and these boys played a major part in turning the tide against the Japanese.

This information has been taken from the writings of Mary Robinson, sister of Jim. My parents Bon and Edna Barrie spoke about this incident leaving a vivid impression in my mind as a young child.

Jim is mentioned in the book Two Steps to Tokyo. A Story of the RAAF in the Trobriand and Admiralty Islands by Gordon Powell Chaplain, RAAF.

After the war Jim returned to Darlingsford. In 1953 he married Wilma Ryan of Yarram. He continued in the family farming tradition obtaining a Soldier Settlement Block at Shelford.

Jim regularly attended the ANZAC day march to the Shrine. He died in August 2004

This account has been compiled by his niece Wendy Barrie

Physical description

Sons of Charles (Ernie) and Jessie Barrie of Darlingsford Melton