Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation

Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Barratt

A S Barratt - 1914 Sir Arthur Sheridan Barratt Arthur Sheridan b: 25 Feb 1891 r: 27 Mar 1947 d: 4 Nov 1966

KCB - 11 Jul 1940 (CB - 11 May 1937), CMG - 3 Jun 1919, MC - 14 Jan 1916, Cwn, O - 1918, MiD - 1 Jan 1916, MiD - 15 May 1917, MiD - 20 May 1918, MiD - 11 Jul 1919, MiD - 20 Dec 1940, MiD - 17 Oct 1941, Cwn, C & CdeG (P) - 15 Jul 1919 (C de G (B) - 25 Jul 1918), LoH (GC) - xx xxx 1940, C de G (F) - xx xxx 1940, PR2 - 12 Jun 1945, DL (Hampshire) - 31 Jul 1956.

For a list of foreign decoration abbreviations, click here

(Army): - 2 Lt: 23 Dec 1910, Lt: 23 Dec 1913, (T) Capt: 11 Jun 1915, (T) Maj: 1 Mar 1916, Capt: 8 Aug 1916, (T) Lt Col: 2 Jun 1917.

(RAF): - (T) Lt Col [Maj]: 1 Apr 1918, Lt Col: 1 Jan 1919, Sqn Ldr: 1 Aug 1919, Act Wg Cdr: 1 Aug 1919, Wg Cdr: 1 Nov 1919, Gp Capt: 1 Jul 1928, A/Cdre: 1 Jul 1932, AVM: 1 Jan 1936, AM: 1 Jul 1939, ACM: 1 Jan 1946.

Photo (right) - Sir Arthur Sheridan Barratt

by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1941
NPG x2705

Photo (left) Arthur Barratt 1914 from his RAeC Certificate

xx xxx xxxx: Attended Royal Military Academy, Woolwich

23 Dec 1910: Officer, Royal Field Artillery

12 May 1914: Attended No 6 Course, Central Flying School.

29 Jun 1914: Pilot, No 3 Sqn. (Various types – UK and Western Front)

30 Jun 1914: Appointed Flying Officer, RFC.

11 Jun 1915: Flight Commander, No 3 Sqn

6 Dec 1915: Returned to Home Establishment

6 Dec 1915: Flying Instructor/Flight Commander, No 13 Reserve Sqn RFC

22 Dec 1915: Flying Instructor/Flight Commander, No 20 Reserve Sqn RFC

1 Mar 1916: Officer Commanding, No 20 Reserve Sqn RFC

xx May 1916: Officer Commanding, No 49 Reserve Sqn RFC

xx Aug 1916: Officer Commanding, No 54 Sqn RFC

10 Sep 1916: Officer Commanding, No 6 Sqn. (BE2e, RE8 – Western Front)

11 - 31 Jan 1916: Officer Commanding (Temporary), No 2 Wing

25 Jun 1917: Returned to Home Establishment

26 Jun 1917: Officer Commanding, 26th Wing

6 Oct 1917: Supernumerary, 3rd (Corps) Wing RFC

10 Oct 1917: Officer Commanding, 3rd (Corps) Wing RFC

xx Sep 1917: Attended Senior Officer Aerial Gunnery Course, Turnberry

3 Dec 1917: Attached, 14th Wing

7 Dec 1917: Supernumerary, 2nd (Corps) Wing

22 Dec 1917: Officer Commanding, 2nd (Corps) Wing

28 Dec 1917 - 12 Jan 1918: Officer Commanding (Temporary), 2nd Brigade

xx Mar 1918: Attended Artillery for Senior Officers of Other Arms Course

17 Nov 1918: Staff Officer, HQ RAF in the Field

29 Jun 1919: Returned to Home Establishment

18 Jul 1919: Staff Officer 1st Class (Head of T.1), Deputy Directorate of Training.

1 Aug 1919: Awarded Permanent Commission as a Major

17 Jan 1921: Assistant Commandant, RAF College - Cranwell

26 Mar 1923: Supernumerary, RAF College - Cranwell, pending disposal on disbandment of Ground Wing

6 Apr 1923: SOA, HQ No 3 Group

21 Jan 1924: Supernumerary, RAF Depot whilst attending Army Staff College, Camberley (Awarded Symbol 'qs')

14 Jan 1926: Supernumerary, School of Army Co-operation.

21 Jan 1926: Commandant, School of Army Co-operation.

9-22 Sep 1926: Officer Commanding (Temporary), HQ, No 22 Group

11 Apr 1927: Air Staff Officer to GOC Shanghai/OC, RAF Units - Shanghai Defence Force.

13 Sep 1927: Supernumerary, RAF Depot.

27 Nov 1927: Air Staff, HQ No 22 Group.

1 Jan 1929: Chief Instructor, RAF Staff College. (Awarded Symbol 'psa')

16 - 31 Aug 1930: Attached, RAF Mount Batten for Short Flying Boat Course

2 Apr 1931: Supernumerary, No 1 (Indian) Group.

30 Apr 1931: Officer Commanding, No 1 (Indian) Group.

7 Sep 1932: SASO, HQ RAF India.

6 Oct 1934: Supernumerary, RAF Depot (Leave)

29 Dec 1934: Supernumerary, No 1 Air Defence Group/Temporary duty with Directorate of Staff Duties, pending posting.

12 Jan 1935: Director of Staff Duties.

1 Jan 1936: Commandant, RAF Staff College

29 Sep - 5 Oct 1938: Attached, HQ Bomber Command for Temporary duty

4 - 15 Sep 1939: Attached , Central Flying School for Refresher Flying Course,

30 Aug 1939: AOC, No 1 Mission France (Principal RAF Liaison Officer to the French Air Force)

15 Jan 1940: AOC in C, HQ British Air Forces in France

26 - 28 Feb 1940: Admitted to Royal Masonic Hospital

18 Jun 1940: Supernumerary pending posting, HQ British Air Forces in France

20 Nov 1940: AOC in C, Army Co-operation Command

1 Jun 1943: AOC in C, Technical Training Command

29 Oct 1945: Inspector-General of the RAF

17 Jan 1947: Supernumerary, Air Ministry Unit, pending retirement

Born at Peshawar in India, he attended Clifton School (1905-1909) before entering the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich in 1909. He qualified for his RAeC Certificate 756 on 26 March 1914.

In August 1939, The Times announced that he was to take over as AOC-in-C in India, but but events three days later obviously altered these plans and he was soon heading across the Channel to take command of all RAF units in France. However, he found his post as AOC-in-C BAFF, difficult owning to the French refusing to authorize operations from France for fear of ‘antagonising’ the Germans.

In 1946 he became caught up in demobilization problems in the Far East which led to near riots and some mutinies. He personally became involved in attempting to pacify personnel at RAF Drigh Road in Karachi without success. From August 1952 until he died, he was the Gentleman Usher to the Sword of State.

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