Atkey enlisted into the British Army, joining the 2/24th Battalion, London Regiment, a Territorial Force unit that was stationed in England until sent to France in June 1916.

[3] On 19 October Atkey was commissioned as a second lieutenant (on probation) in the Royal Flying Corps,[4] and was confirmed in his rank in September 1917.

22 Squadron to fly the Bristol F.2b fighter/reconnaissance aircraft in "A" Flight, paired with Lieutenant Charles George Gass as his gunner/observer.

His citation read: Second Lieutenant Alfred Clayburn Atkey, RFC, Special Reserve.

[7]The Bar was gazetted on 13 September 1918, reading: Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) Alfred Clayburn Atkey, MC, RAF.

When engaged with enemy aircraft, often far superior in numbers, he proved himself a brilliant fighting pilot, and displayed dash and gallantry of a high order.

[2] On 23 January 1924, Atkey was living in Los Angeles, employed as a writer, when he filed a "Declaration of Intention", the first step in becoming a naturalized American citizen.

[1] It is unclear if Atkey actually became an American citizen, but on 26 August 1942 he was married for a second time to Dulcie May Boadway (b. circa 1914) in Toronto, Ontario.

[1] His gravestone describes him as a flying officer in the Royal Canadian Air Force, though details of his later military service are unknown.