This week’s hero is: Colonel Victor Barker (1895–1960).

Also known as: Valerie Barker (her maiden name); Valarie Arkell-Smith (taken from her first husband, Harold); John Hill; Geoffrey Norton.

Our hero’s social scene: Barker lived a varied life, moving first in military circles and later living as a wife and mother on Surrey farmland. His life as a man took in the wealthy Brighton scene and, later in life, circus sideshows.

Famous for: Living as a man above his means, Barker declared bankruptcy in 1929 and became a cause célèbre when, after being arrested for failing to attend court, a jail medical inspection reveled his sex. His marriage to Elfrida Haward then came under scrutiny and Barker was imprisoned for nine months, charged with making a false statement on a marriage certificate. He continued to live as a man upon release.

Infamous for: Was a member of the National Fascisti, even training recruits prior to his imprisonment. Later sold his story to tabloids and became The Man-Woman circus attraction in Blackpool. Lesbian author Radclyffe Hall took exception to Barker for “only pretending” to be male and felt his behaviour set back the homosexual rights movement.

Reason he’s a hero: Despite his highly questionable politics, the Colonel was resolute in his identity and brought the idea of cross-dressing and trans identity into living rooms across the country. Although he posed as a Colonel, he was ultimately a working class counter-point to the Bloomsbury-ilk.

If he were alive today he’d be: Chaz Bono – a transman thrust into the limelight who is nonetheless publicly comfortable with his identity.

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