Anthony Charles Bartley DFC (1919 - 2001)

Born 28 Mar 1919 in Dacca, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Husband of Deborah Jane (Trimmer) Viertel CBE — married Nov 1945 in Saint George Hanover Square, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom

Husband of Victoria (Mann) Barley — married 21 Sep 1965 in Chelsea, London, England, United Kingdom

Died 18 Apr 2001 at age 82 in Rosscarbery, County Cork, Ireland

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Biography

Tony Bartley DFC is Notable.

Highly decorated British fighter pilot. As a Royal Air Force Spitfire pilot, Bartley was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions during the Battle of Britain, during which he became a fighter ace. He was also test pilot, television and film executive, and author.^[1]

Anthony Charles Bartley was born March 28, 1919 in Dacca, Bengal (now named Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh). He was the son of Sir Charles Bartley, an Irish barrister who served as a judge in the Calcutta High Court, and Eileen Marjorie Hamilton.

Educated at Stowe in Buckinghamshire, England, he was an apprentice at a chartered accountants firm in London before joining the Royal Air Force in May 1939 with conflict looming.

In August 1942, Sq Ldr Bartley was put in charge of 111 Squadron and took part in Operation Torch in North Africa, shooting down several enemy fighters over Tunisia. He added a Bar to his Distinguised Flying Cross (DFC), earned during the Battle of Britain (as a Spitfire pilot), for his efforts.

RANK:

• Squadron Leader

UNITS:

• No. 92 Squadron RAF
• No. 74 Squadron RAF

COMMANDS HELD:

• No. 111 Squadron RAF

BATTLES / WARS - SECOND WORLD WAR:

• Battle of France
• Battle of Britain
• North African campaign

MEDALS:

• Distinguished Flying Cross with Bar
• 1939-45 Star
• Air Crew Europe Star
• Africa Star
• Pacific Star
• Defence and War Medals 1939-45.

Marriages

His 1st marriage was to actress Deborah Kerr (born Deborah Jane Trimmer) in November 1945 at St. George’s Church, Hanover Square, London, England. They were the parents of 2 daughters before they divorced in 1959.^[2]

His 2nd marriage was to Victoria Mann on September 21, 1965 and it was registered in Chelsea registration district, Greater London, England. They were the parents of 2 daughters.

He had been shot down by a Dornier Do on September 17, 1940 and in his log book on September 18th, his entry for his near miss states matter-of-factly: Shot Down by 109. Jumped While Shooting Down Do 17 - Abortive Parachute - Jump Attempt Caused by Pursuing 109 - Crashed at Appledore - Do 17 Confirmed in Sea. He expanded on that terrifying indicident as well as his entire military career and life in his autobiography published many years later in 1984 which he entitled Smoke Trails in the Sky.

Tony died at age 82 on April 18, 2001 in County Cork, Ireland.

Sources

1. ↑ [[Wikipedia:Tony_Bartley
2. ↑ Marriage Registration Index: General Register Office; United Kingdom; Volume: 1a; Page: 1051

• Ancestry.com. U.S., Cemetery and Funeral Home Collection, 1847-Current [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2011.

• Ancestry.com. England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, 2010.

SEE ALSO:

• https://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/bartley.htm
• https://www.swanbournehistory.co.uk/battle-of-britain-1940-world-war-2/
• https://www.irishexaminer.com/property/homeandgardens/arid-40749984.html
• https://www.rafcommands.com/database/awards/details.php?qnum=41816&qname=BARTLEY

LISTEN:

• https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80010857