Flight Sergeant William Charles Robson Barr

William Charles Robson Barr was born at Hemmingford, Quebec, on 31 May 1915. Before the war he worked as a customs and excise examiner. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force at Montreal on 8 July 1940, service number R66747, and trained as an armourer. Barr served at several RCAF training establishments, including No. 1 Wireless School and No. 9 Bombing and Gunnery School, and advanced through the non-commissioned ranks to Temporary Flight Sergeant. He married Audrey Mae Heather at Montreal on 31 July 1943. Barr served overseas in the United Kingdom from October 1944 until August 1945 before returning to Canada. He was honourably released at Lachine, Quebec, on 5 October 1945 and transferred to the RCAF Reserve. His file records the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Clasp and War Service Badge.

1915-05-31 — Born.
1940-07-08 — Enlisted in the RCAF Special Reserve as Aircraftman Second Class R66747.
1940-09-30 — Receipt of identity discs acknowledged; religion recorded as United Church.
1940-10-22 to 1941-01-13 — Completed No. 23 Armourers Course; passed with 65.6%.
1941-01-13 — Reclassified Aircraftman First Class.
1941-04-16 — Passed Command Trade Test Board in Armourer Group B, assessment 82%; effective 1 July 1941.
1941-07-01 — Reclassified Leading Aircraftman.
1942-02-01 — Appointed Acting Corporal (paid); service form also records temporary/paid corporal status from the same effective date.
1942-04-20 to 1942-04-21 — Hospitalized with follicular tonsillitis; treated and returned to duty.
1942-05-12 — Posted to No. 9 Bombing and Gunnery School.
1942-08-10 — Completed musketry and revolver training.
1942-08-18 — Appointed Acting Sergeant; later service entries distinguish unpaid and paid status.
1943-06-01 — Appointed Acting Flight Sergeant (paid).
1943-07-31 — Married Audrey Mae Heather at St. James United Church.
1943-12-01 — Appointed Temporary Flight Sergeant.
1944-04-17 to 1944-04-19 — Hospitalized with acute enteritis after severe cramps, diarrhoea, dizziness and weakness; discharged to duty.
1944-10-04 — Embarked from Canada for overseas service.
1944-10-12 — Disembarked in the United Kingdom.
1944-10-13 — Taken on strength of an RCAF reception organization recorded on the source as '3 PRC'.
1944-10-31 to 1944-11-07 — Seven days privilege leave.
1944-11-10 — Right ankle X-rayed after being kicked about eight days earlier; persistent pain and soreness recorded.
1944-12-20 — Posted to a base organization recorded on the source as '64 Base'; ground-defence training record also opened at Barrack Block No. 2.
1945-01-06 — Completed one-week recruits/ground-defence training course.
1945-01-27 to 1945-02-04 — Privilege leave.
1945-05-05 to 1945-05-13 — Privilege leave.
1945-06-07 — Posted to organization recorded on the source as '63 Base'.
1945-08-20 — Overseas service ended; returned to Canada.
1945-09-04 — Medical Board at RCAF Station Lachine reviewed him prior to normal release under K.R. (Air) 195(17).
1945-10-05 — Honourably released on completion of voluntary service during the emergency and transferred to RCAF Reserve, General Section, Class E.
1945-11-28 — War Service Badge, General Service Class no. 587752, forwarded with certificate.
1945-12-06 — Signed receipt for War Service Badge no. 587752.