William Barker is Canada’s most-decorated Great War hero. Born in Dauphin, Manitoba on Nov. 3, 1894, he wracked up a total of 50 victories on the Italian and Western fronts. He fought a spectacular dogfight, single-handedly, against 10-plus German fighters on October 27, 1918, for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross, an award which is traditionally awarded posthumously. After returning to Canada he ran a commercial aviation business with fellow ace Billy Bishop. Barker’s life was tragically cut short in a flying accident in Ottawa in 1930. Despite his decorations for bravery, Barker’s remains were buried in a crypt marked Smith (his wife’s family) in Toronto.
