Douglas Meston Barnes

De Rivigny's Roll of Honour 1914-1918 BARNES, DOUGLAS MESTON, Flight-Lieut., Royal Naval Air Service, s of George Frederick Barnes, of Tulse Hll Park, A.S.I., by his wife, Elizabeth; b. Clapham, co. Surrey, 19 June 1887; educ. Broomwood College there and privately. On completing his education, Lieut. Barnes entered the engineering profession and was particularly interested in marine engineering and aircraft. He attained the position of manager of Smokeless Appliances Ltd., an advisory and manufacturing company, of Victoria Street, Westminster. He resigned this on the outbreak of the war, and offered his services to the War Office and Admiralty. He received his commission as Flight Sub-Lieut. in the Naval Air Service, and was appointed to H. M. S. Pembroke on12 Oct. 1914, was transferred to Hendon Flying Station in Nov. and gained Pilot's Certificate in Dec. Early in 1915 he was appointed to the staff and placed in charge of the mechanics at the station. Later on he was gazetted Flight-Lieut. and was promoted to the command at Hendon. At the time of his death he was designated to the command of the more important station at ...... and was about to take up his duties there. On the night of the first air raid onLondon, 31 May-1 June, Lieut. Barnes received warning of the approach of the Zeppelin at ...... and chased it for many miles in various directions ......., but finally lost it and met his death at 2.30a.m. in endeavouring to land in darkness and mist. The subjoined official account, furnished by the Admiralty, gives further particulars of Lieut. Barnes' exploit: "This officer lost his life in a very gallant attempt to destroy a Zeppelin which was attacking London on the night of 31 May, and if only weather conditions had been a little more favourable it is likely that the result would have been quite as successful as Flight-Sub-Lieut. Warneford's complete destruction of a Zeppelin in the air in Flanders. The ascent was made in the dark and it is probable that after chasing the Zeppelin he missed her owing to the hazy weather and then found it necessary to land in order to find his position, and in doing so found himself surrounded by low-lying fog, entirely obscuring the ground. After a careful inspection it was found that the machine struck the ground at an abnormally high speed, bounced twice, and then turned over on its back completely, and there seems to be no doubt that Lieut. Barnes was killed outright.... It is felt that the highest praise is due to these officers who, in defence of their country, cheerfully carry out such hazardous flights at night under extremely dangerous conditions. (Signed) MURRAY F. SUETER, Commodore, R. N." He is buried in Nunhead cemetery; unm.

Aviator's Certificate states Barnes died at Hatfield.

London Gazette, 7 September 1915

DOUGLAS MESTON BARNES, Deceased.

Pursuant to the Statute 22nd and 23rd Vic., cap. 35, entitled "An Act to further amend the Law of Property and to relieve Trustees." NOTICE is hereby given, that all creditors and other persons having any debts, claims or demands against the estate of Douglas Meston Barnes, of the Royal Naval Air Station, Hendon, in the county of Middlesex, formerly of Langroyd House, Larkhall Rise, in the county of Surrey, Flight Lieutenant (who was accidentally killed whilst flying on the 1st day of June, 1915, and whose will was proved in the Principal Registry of the Probate Division of His Majesty's High Court of Justice, on the 24th day of August 1915, by me, the undersigned, the executor named ...