Barbara Freyberg, Baroness Freyberg
Encyclopedia
Barbara Freyberg, Baroness Freyberg GBE
, DStJ
(died 24 September 1973) was a British
peeress.
Born as Barbara Jekyll, she was a daughter of Colonel Sir Herbert Jekyll (KCMG). On 20 July 1911, she married Hon. Francis Walter Stafford McLaren
, the-then Liberal
MP for Spalding
and the second son of the 1st Baron Aberconway
.
Francis and Barbara McLaren had two sons: Martin John McLaren
(1914–1979) and Guy Lewis Ian McLaren (1915–1978). Francis McLaren was killed in action
in 1917.
On 14 June 1922, she remarried, to Bernard Cyril Freyberg
(later Baron Freyberg
) at St. Martha-on-the-Hill
, near Guildford
, Surrey
. They had one son, Paul Freyberg, 2nd Baron Freyberg
(27 May 1923–26 May 1993).
, she was a welfare worker in Cairo
, was mentioned in despatches and awarded an OBE
in 1943. When her husband's term as Governor-General of New Zealand
ended in 1952, Lady Freyberg was awarded the GBE
in 1953.
, Surrey
, alongside her second husband, with their son, who had been awarded the Military Cross
, at the end of their graves.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, DStJ
Venerable Order of Saint John
The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
(died 24 September 1973) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
peeress.
Born as Barbara Jekyll, she was a daughter of Colonel Sir Herbert Jekyll (KCMG). On 20 July 1911, she married Hon. Francis Walter Stafford McLaren
Francis McLaren
The Honourable Francis Walter Stafford McLaren was a British Member of Parliament killed in World War I.-Career:...
, the-then Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
MP for Spalding
Spalding (UK Parliament constituency)
Spalding was a county constituency in Lincolnshire, which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
and the second son of the 1st Baron Aberconway
Charles McLaren, 1st Baron Aberconway
Charles Benjamin Bright McLaren, 1st Baron Aberconway, PC, QC, JP , known as Sir Charles McLaren, 1st Baronet between 1902 and 1911, was a Scottish jurist and Liberal Party politician. He was a landowner and industrialist.-Education:Born in Edinburgh, McLaren was the son of the politician Duncan...
.
Francis and Barbara McLaren had two sons: Martin John McLaren
Martin McLaren
Major Martin John McLaren , British soldier and Conservative Party politician.He was the son of Hon. Francis McLaren, Liberal MP for Spalding and Barbara Jekyll.-Career:...
(1914–1979) and Guy Lewis Ian McLaren (1915–1978). Francis McLaren was killed in action
Killed in action
Killed in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to...
in 1917.
On 14 June 1922, she remarried, to Bernard Cyril Freyberg
Bernard Freyberg, 1st Baron Freyberg
Lieutenant-General Bernard Cyril Freyberg, 1st Baron Freyberg VC, GCMG, KCB, KBE, DSO & Three Bars , was a British-born New Zealand Victoria Cross recipient and soldier who later served as the seventh Governor-General of New Zealand.A veteran of the Mexican Revolution, he became an officer in the...
(later Baron Freyberg
Baron Freyberg
Baron Freyberg, of Wellington in New Zealand and of Munstead in the County of Surrey, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1951 for the prominent military commander Lieutenant-General Sir Bernard Freyberg. He served as Governor-General of New Zealand from 1946 to 1952....
) at St. Martha-on-the-Hill
St. Martha's Hill
St Martha's Hill is a landmark of the parish of St Martha's in Surrey, England, situated between Guildford and Chilworth, Surrey. It is a prominent hill on the Greensand Ridge just to the south of the North Downs in southeast England. The top of the hill provides good views of Newland's Corner and...
, near Guildford
Guildford
Guildford is the county town of Surrey. England, as well as the seat for the borough of Guildford and the administrative headquarters of the South East England region...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
. They had one son, Paul Freyberg, 2nd Baron Freyberg
Paul Freyberg, 2nd Baron Freyberg
Colonel Paul Richard Freyberg, 2nd Baron Freyberg, MC was a British peer.The son of General Bernard Freyberg and his wife Barbara McLaren, he was educated in Eton College, Berkshire. He was a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Grenadier Guards...
(27 May 1923–26 May 1993).
WWII
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, she was a welfare worker in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
, was mentioned in despatches and awarded an OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1943. When her husband's term as Governor-General of New Zealand
Governor-General of New Zealand
The Governor-General of New Zealand is the representative of the monarch of New Zealand . The Governor-General acts as the Queen's vice-regal representative in New Zealand and is often viewed as the de facto head of state....
ended in 1952, Lady Freyberg was awarded the GBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1953.
Death
She died in 1973, and was interred in the churchyard of Saint Martha on the Hill in GuildfordGuildford
Guildford is the county town of Surrey. England, as well as the seat for the borough of Guildford and the administrative headquarters of the South East England region...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, alongside her second husband, with their son, who had been awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
, at the end of their graves.