Barbour attended the
Royal Military College, Sandhurst, as a Gentlemen Cadet, from where he was commissioned as a
second lieutenant in the
King's Own Scottish Borderers on 27 October 1916. On 22 December 1917 he was seconded to the
Royal Flying Corps, receiving promotion to lieutenant on 27 April 1918. and was awarded the
Air Force Cross in June 1928. He received further promotions; to
squadron leader on 1 October 1934, to
wing commander on 31 December 1937, and to temporary
group captain on 1 September 1940. ==References==