Barrett-Lennard, John Archdale, 1917-1941

Barrett-Lennard, John Archdale, son of John Barrett-Lennard CBE, of Kew, Surrey; b. 6 Sept. 1917; adm. Sept. 1931 (G); left July 1935; RAAF (Sergt), killed in action; d. Aug. 1941.

John Archdale Barrett-Lennard was born at Pinner, Middlesex on the 6th of September 1917 the only son of John Barrett-Lennard CBE, an army officer and a director of Imperial Airways, and Winifred Mary Lennard of 16, Brunswick Gardens, Kensington in London, later of 88, Styvechale Avenue, Coventry in Warwickshire. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Grant’s from September 1931 to July 1935 and was a member of the Fencing team in 1935.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force volunteer Reserve where he trained as an observer and rose to the rank of Sergeant. He was serving with 21 Squadron when he was involved in an accident while taxiing towards the flare path. He later transferred to 9 Squadron.
On the 26th of February 1941 he and his crew were flying just to the south of Cologne in Wellington Mk 1C WS-Z R1341 when the aircraft was hit by anti aircraft fire. On its return to England the aircraft was diverted to RAF East Wrethem where it landed safely with no injuries amongst the crew.
On the night of the 12th/13th of August 1941, Bomber Command dispatched 65 Wellingtons and 13 Hampdens for an operation on Hannover.
John Barrett-Lennard and his crew took off from RAF Honington at 9.20pm on the 12th of August 1941 in Wellington Mk IC R1341 WS-Z for the operation. The aircraft was carrying a bomb load of three 500lb general purpose bombs, three hundred and fifty 4lb incendiaries and two flash bombs. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after takeoff. It was attacked and shot down by Messerschmitt Bf110 D-3 G9+FP flown by Feldwebel Ernst Kalinowski and Unteroffizier Zwickl of 6./NJG 1. The aircraft crashed between Grafel and Anderlingen near Rotenburg to the east of Bremen at 1.56am with the loss of the entire crew. Theirs was one of an eventual four victories for Ernst Kalinowski before he was killed on active service on the 21st of March 1944.
The crew was: -
Sergeant Hugh Forster Barron (Wireless Operator/Front Gunner)
Sergeant George Barry “Don” Smith RCAF 2nd Pilot
Sergeant Ronald Ramsey Passmore RNZAF (Rear Gunner)
Sergeant Eric Lewin (Pilot)
Sergeant John Archdale Barrett-Lennard (Observer)
Flight Sergeant Charles William Albert Wells (Wireless Operator)
Thiers was one of four aircraft which were lost during the operation.
The crew was buried at Rotenburg Cemetery but their bodies were exhumed on the 6th of July 1946 and moved to their present location.
He is buried at Becklingen War Cemetery Plot 12, Row B, Grave 13.

Sergeant 743003 9 Squadron, Royal Air Force

International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) 2nd edition

Prepared for import into AtoM by Westminster School Archive staff, 2019-2020. Updated by Bethany Duck, Archives Assistant, September 2022.

The Record of Old Westminsters: A biographical list of all those who are known to have been educated at Westminster School from Play 1919 to Election 1989, Volume 4, compiled by F.E. Pagan and H.E. Pagan, Padstow, 1992

Westminster School Second World War Memorial by John C. Hamblin, 2022.