Background
Born in south London, his father was an Anglican rector, and his family home for most of his childhood was in the rectory at Great Holland, on the Essex coast, near Frinton-on-Sea.
Born in south London, his father was an Anglican rector, and his family home for most of his childhood was in the rectory at Great Holland, on the Essex coast, near Frinton-on-Sea.
He attended Hawtreys preparatory school, Stowe School, and Trinity College, Cambridge, and joined the University Air Squadron in 1938.
Called up on the outbreak of war, and posted to Number. 249 Squadron Royal Air Force in July 1940, he flew through the Battle of Britain, receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross in October. During the Battle of Britain, his diary records that he could see his house while flying from Royal Air Force North Weald.
Barclay"s Distinguished Flying Cross citation from November 1940 reads: Flying Officer Richard George Arthur Barclay (74661), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve - Number.
249 Squadron. This officer has shown admirable coolness and courage in combat against the enemy. His keenness and determination have enabled him to destroy at least four of their aircraft (Distinguished Flying Cross Citation)
As a flight commander with Number.
611 Squadron Royal Air Force, Barclay was shot down over occupied France in September 1941. He force landed and evaded capture, making his way to Spain with help from the French Resistance.
In April 1942 he was posted to North Africa and returned to flying as Colorado of Number.
238 Squadron Royal Air Force, flying Hawker Hurricanes Mk II"son He was shot down and killed by Lieutenant Werner Schröer of III./Jagdgeschwader 27 on 17 July 1942.
He is buried at the El Alamein War Cemetery, Egypt.
Barclay"s older brother Charles, an army officer, was killed in 1944. His diaries, written during his wartime career up until his death, were published in 1974 and give a rare, descriptive and highly articulate first hand account of the life of a fighter pilot in 1940-1941.
An expanded edition was published in 2012.