Pat Barry RN......from David Tait of the St Nazaire Society.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 14/03/2016 22:38:04

It is with sadness that I report the death of Pat in his 101st year .

I understand that Pat passed away in his sleep last night.I'm sure that you will wish to join the Society in passing our condolences to his family.

Following Pat's 100th birthday an article was included in the Society Newsletter from which I have taken the following extract.

Pat was born on 16th August 1914. He was one of four, having a brother and two sisters.

During WWI Pat's father served with the Canadian Army and at the war's end he took the family to Canada. They settled on Vancouver Island at a small settlement called Errington.

The family subsequently returned to England and Pat attended a prep school in Westminster and Bristol and finally Prior Park in Bath. After leaving school he became an artist and specialist screen printer and was involved in the development of 'Letraset' during the 1950s.

During the period prior to WWII Pat joined the Royal Naval Voluntary Reserve and trained as a Wireless/Telegraph (WT) Operator.
After the outbreak of war he was called up and after training served on Motor Launch (ML) 307, operating in both the English and Bristol Channels. In March 1942 ML 307 was chosen to carry demolition Commandos as part of The Raid on St. Nazaire, Pat acting as the craft's WT Operator. It was intended that ML 307 discharge it's Commandos on the Old Mole but was beaten off by heavy German fire and subsequently ordered to withdraw back to the United Kingdom.

Following it's successful return ML 307, with Pat still part of the crew, participated in both the Torch and Anzio landings. Before the war's end Pat joined the Fleet Air Arm. Fortunately, hostilities terminated whilst he was still in training.

The St. Nazaire Society was formed immediately after the war and Pat became an active member. He held the position of Society Joint Secretary from 1949-51 and Secretary from 1969-77.
In recognition of his participation in the Raid, Pat was subsequently awarded the Legion d'Honneur.

After retirement, at the age of 80, he moved to St. Paul Lizonne with Dot.

David

RIP Pat

RIP Pat. Remembered with honour.