Herbert John Leslie Barefoot
Encyclopedia
Herbert John Leslie Barefoot GC
(15 May 1887 – 1958) was an English recipient of the George Cross
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry for actions not involving direct enemy action granted to British military personnel (and certain Commonwealth
countries). The George Cross is also the civilian equivalent of the Victoria Cross
, but in this instance it was awarded in military circumstances.
He was educated as Dulwich College
between 1900 and 1905. Before the First World War, he trained as an architect. In the war, he served in the ranks with RAMC in Egyptian Expeditionary Force (1916-1919) and was mentioned in dispatches. After demobilisation in 1919, he continued to practice as an architect, becoming President of the Suffolk
Association of Architects (1936-1938), and of the East Anglia
n Society of Architects in 1938.
In the Second World War, he joined the Royal Engineers
, working in bomb disposal. He was awarded the George Cross
in 1940 "for most conspicuous gallantry in carrying out hazardous work in a very brave manner...". The citation includes the following comments:
He was promoted major
in 1941 and returned to his architectural practice after the war. He died aged 71 in 1958.
George Cross
The George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
(15 May 1887 – 1958) was an English recipient of the George Cross
George Cross
The George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry for actions not involving direct enemy action granted to British military personnel (and certain Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
countries). The George Cross is also the civilian equivalent of the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, but in this instance it was awarded in military circumstances.
He was educated as Dulwich College
Dulwich College
Dulwich College is an independent school for boys in Dulwich, southeast London, England. The college was founded in 1619 by Edward Alleyn, a successful Elizabethan actor, with the original purpose of educating 12 poor scholars as the foundation of "God's Gift". It currently has about 1,600 boys,...
between 1900 and 1905. Before the First World War, he trained as an architect. In the war, he served in the ranks with RAMC in Egyptian Expeditionary Force (1916-1919) and was mentioned in dispatches. After demobilisation in 1919, he continued to practice as an architect, becoming President of the Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
Association of Architects (1936-1938), and of the East Anglia
East Anglia
East Anglia is a traditional name for a region of eastern England, named after an ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdom, the Kingdom of the East Angles. The Angles took their name from their homeland Angeln, in northern Germany. East Anglia initially consisted of Norfolk and Suffolk, but upon the marriage of...
n Society of Architects in 1938.
In the Second World War, he joined the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
, working in bomb disposal. He was awarded the George Cross
George Cross
The George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
in 1940 "for most conspicuous gallantry in carrying out hazardous work in a very brave manner...". The citation includes the following comments:
This officer dealt with and defused some of the first unexploded bombs in this country. In these early pioneer stages new types of bombs were constantly being found. CaptainCaptain (British Army and Royal Marines)Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
Barefoot was, therefore, responsible for the discovery of much new and valuable information. On July 28 he assisted Dr Merriman of LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in experimenting on and afterwards defusing three unexploded bombs of a new shape at Great YarmouthGreat YarmouthGreat Yarmouth, often known to locals as Yarmouth, is a coastal town in Norfolk, England. It is at the mouth of the River Yare, east of Norwich.It has been a seaside resort since 1760, and is the gateway from the Norfolk Broads to the sea...
. By then Captain Barefoot had defused thirty or more such bombs of varying types and shapes. On the night of September 1 Captain Barefoot received information about unexploded bombs blocking the LNER main line. There were six live bombs in one place. This was a time when delayed-action time fuse bombs were much in use. In view of the importance of clearing the line at all costs, Captain Barefoot and his men deliberately ignored the safety period of four days then laid down. By 7am work was begun and continued without cessation in relays throughout the day. Captain Barefoot assisted personally in this remarkably expeditious operation, and by the evening the line had been cleared and at 6.40pm the first train was running. Normally this work would have taken a week to perform. Captain Barefoot worked on one of the first parachute magnetic mines dropped in this country. At the time we had very little knowledge of the mechanism of these mines, and much was learnt in these initial stages.
He was promoted major
Major (UK)
In the British military, major is a military rank which is used by both the British Army and Royal Marines. The rank insignia for a major is a crown...
in 1941 and returned to his architectural practice after the war. He died aged 71 in 1958.