Information/History
As a Member of Parliament from the Dauphin-Swan River constituency, Inky Mark placed a high priority on a project to have the Government of Canada officially recognize the important contribution made to this country by World War I flying ace William Barker.
On June 2, 1998, MP Inky Mark introduced the following motion in the House of Commons:
That the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage prepare and report a bill to this House, in accordance with Standing Order 68(4)(b), no later than ninety (90) days following adoption of this motion, that will create a memorial recognizing the outstanding contribution of Lieutenant Colonel William (“Billy”) Barker (deceased), V.C., World War I flying ace, and hero of Canada and the Commonwealth.
On November 17, 1999, MP Inky Mark had the privilege of presenting a portrait of Barker, standing beside his famous Sopwith Camel airplane, to the French Ambassador in Ottawa. Other replicas of the 3 ft. by 2 ft. portrait are already on display in the National War Museum and the National Aviation Museum in Ottawa.
On March 16, 2000, Mark previewed a special ceremony in a speech to the House of Commons.
"Mr. Speaker - This week marked the 70th anniversary of the death of Canada's most decorated war hero . . . Lt. Col. William Barker V.C.
Lt. Col. William Barker V.C. soared through the skies during the First World War, shooting down 50 enemy aircraft in his famous Sopwith Camel Biplane.
Born in 1894, in Dauphin Manitoba, Barker joined the Canadian Mounted Rifles in 1914. He spent a year in the trenches before transferring to the Royal Flying Corps, where his efforts went on to win him the Victoria Cross. He died test lying an airplane near the Ottawa Rockcliffe Airport in 1930. His funeral was the largest ever in Toronto's history, with more than 50,000 spectators and a cortege of more than 2,000 soldiers in uniform.
Mr. Speaker, on June 1st, the Heritage Minister will unveil a commemorative plaque in his honour in Dauphin Manitoba. The Snowbirds, another Canadian icon, will take to the skies to celebrate this special occasion. Mr. Speaker, I invite all members to attend this historic event."
The culmination of the political process came on June 1, 2000, at the newly renamed Lt. Col. William Barker V.C. airfield in Dauphin Manitoba, with the unveiling of a plaque in honour of Lt. Col. William Barker V.C. by the National Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.
"At the beginning of the millennium, one of Canada's great aces of the First World War is finally receiving the recognition he earned when he soared over the skies of France and Italy. Lt. Col. William Barker V.C. is Canada's most decorated war hero. This forgotten Canadian hero shot down 50 enemy aircraft during the war. This is a long time coming and truly a proud and historic day," Mark said at the plaque unveiling.
Barker's war efforts earned him the Victoria Cross, the DSO, the Military Cross, French and Italian military honours, and six gallantry awards from King George V.
In attendance for the plaque unveiling was Barker's brother, Orville Barker, who was pleased to see that his brother received the recognition that so many thought he deserved.