Nathaniel John Merriman Barry was born on 18th June 1918, at Pilgrim’s Rest, Eastern Transvaal, South Africa. He was one of seven children born to Richard Alan Barry, a mining engineer, and Gladys Isobel Barry (nee Van Der Byl).
The Barry family were the first residents of “Alanglade” a grand house (now a museum) built by Transvaal Gold Mining Estates in 1915, to house their Mining Manager. Nathaniel attended St. Andrews School followed by the Diocesan College, Capetown, where he gained Greek and Maths with Honours.
In 1937, he travelled to England and took up studies in Mechanical and Technical Science at Pembroke College, Cambridge. Whilst there, he joined the university air squadron. Subsequently he joined the RAF Volunteer Reserve and, after training, in 1940, became Aide-de-Camp to Air Vice-Marshal Crespigny MC DFC who commanded No.25 (Armament) Group.
Barry was keen to pursue a more active career and in June 1940, he was posted to No.3 Squadron, at Wick in Scotland, to gain operational experience on the Hurricane. No.3 Squadron had recently arrived at Wick for rest and recuperation following a mauling in France, their journey north had involved a brief stay at Kenley. Their role at Wick, which was a Sector Station, involved defence of the naval base at Scapa Flow. The squadron remained in Scotland for the summer of 1940, moving to Castledown, a satellite station to Wick, on 2 September and Turnhouse on 16 September.
On 26 September 1940, Barry, along with Pilot Officer Frederick Harrold, joined No.501 Squadron at RAF Kenley. The Squadron had moved from Gravesend to Kenley on 10 September. Finding accommodation scarce, some of its personnel were put up in a local hotel, replacing No.66 Squadron who had only stayed 7 days. Barry flew two operational sorties, plus an air test the following day, with 5 more sorties over the next two days. However, on the morning of 30 September, his Hurricane was damaged in action and he force landed at Pembury, near Tunbridge Wells. He wrote to his sister in Yorkshire the following day telling her not to worry about the incident. He flew a further 5 times.
On 7th October, Barry was shot down and killed as the squadron intercepted a group of Me.109s north-west of Ashford. In the engagement, he had been seen to bale out but was dead when found at Wilmington. His Hurricane (V6800) crashed in Darenth.
Nathaniel Barry is buried in Finghall churchyard in Yorkshire.
On 26 May 2007, a memorial marker was erected close to the spot where he fell by the Shoreham Aircraft Museum.
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