In the second world war, Barkas led the Camouflage Development and Training Camp at Helwan, Egypt, which he set up in November 1941, with the zoologist Hugh B. Cott as his chief instructor.
In the second world war, Barkas led the Middle East command of the British Army's "Camouflage Unit". He set up the Camouflage Development and Training Camp at Helwan, Egypt in November 1941, with the zoologist Hugh B. Cott as his chief instructor.