Home > Rowing Profiles > Barnfather, Eliot Ralph

E R Barnfather

Mercantile Rowing Club (VIC)

(27 Jan 1915 to 18 May 1942)

Eliot Ralph Barnfather hailed from Geelong and joined Mercantile Rowing Club in the 1939-40 season as a senior member.

Barnfather, 27, was the son of Thomas Stanley Barnfather and Ruby Alice Barnfather, of Geelong. He was educated at Geelong College where he raced in the third crew in 1932. He then trained and became a barrister and solicitor.

In his first and only active season at Mercantile he raced in maiden and junior crews. He maintained his membership whilst on service.

1939 - Henley-on-Yarra, Maiden Eight, five seat - won heat but lost in final¹

1939 - VRA Regatta, Maiden Eight, five seat - First²

1940 - Barwon Regatta, Junior Eight, five seat - Third³

1940 - Ballarat Regatta, Junior Eight, five seat - unsuccesful⁴

1940 - Victorian Championship Junior Eight, five seat - Third⁵

Barnfather enlisted into the RAAF on 20 Aug 1940 and attained the rank of Flying Officer in 218 Squadron.

Sadly he died in action on 18th May 1942. His Stirling bomber took off from RAF Marham at 23:16. The plane was on a minelaying operation over the eastern Danish waters. Hit by Flak, it was abandoned at 0100 near Lyne, 12 km SSW of Tarm, Denmark. Three members of the crew were wounded by shrapnel as they descended by parachute and F/O Barnfather RAAF died after being struck in the stomach. Six men were captured, slightly injured or unharmed.⁶

Barnfather was buried 23 May 1942 in Esbjerg (Fourfelt) Cemetery.

He is remembered annually at the ANZAC Day service at Mercantile.

Sources:

1939-40 Mercantile Annual Report and Melb Age 20/11/1939 p.12
1939-40 Mercantile Annual Report and Melb Argus 27/11/1939 p.15
1939-40 Mercantile Annual Report
1939-40 Mercantile Annual Report
1939-40 Mercantile Annual Report
Eliot Ralph Barnfather (airmen.dk)

Andrew Guerin
January 2023

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The idea for this history originated from the Olympic Rowing and World Senior Rowing Championship histories written by Andrew Guerin and Margot Foster in 1991, 1992 & 1993 for the Australian team handbooks. Andrew Guerin developed and extended these histories to the current format in 2004 for publication in 2004 and then expanded the site.

Steve Roll has been an invaluable contributor to the website in locating errors and finding Christian names of rowers. His superb work is acknowledged.

© Andrew Guerin – 2004
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