Harold Eric Barrowclough
Encyclopedia
Major-General Sir Harold Eric Barrowclough, KCMG
, CB
, DSO & Bar
, MC
(23 June 1894 – 4 March 1972) was a New Zealand
military leader, lawyer, and Chief Justice
.
Born at Masterton, New Zealand, he attended Palmerston North Boys' High School
and the University of Otago
. He joined the New Zealand Expeditionary Force
as a private in 1915, but was soon commissioned as an officer
. He departed for overseas service in October 1915, attached to the New Zealand Rifle Brigade
. As a company
commander he won a Military Cross at the Somme and was wounded in 1917. Returning to France, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel
and given command of the 4th Battalion of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade in 1918 and was awarded a DSO. He also received the Croix de Guerre
and was mentioned in despatches twice.
After the war Barrowclough became a solicitor, and after a brief period of inactive service, in 1921 he joined the Territorial Force, subsequently commanding the 1st Battalion, Otago Regiment. From 1930 he commanded the 3rd New Zealand Infantry Brigade, but resigned in 1931 following the discontinuation of compulsory military training.
He rejoined the Army in 1939 and led the New Zealand Division's 6th Brigade during the Greek campaign and in North Africa. He received a bar to the DSO for his actions during the Crusader offensive in November 1941.
Barrowclough returned to New Zealand early in 1942 to lead the 3rd New Zealand Division and finally the New Zealand Pacific Forces. Under his command, the division played a role in the Solomons campaign, including three amphibious landings. The division was disbanded to provide reinforcements for the New Zealand forces in Europe. His awards included the United States Legion of Merit and the Companion of the Bath (CB).
He was Chief Justice of New Zealand
from 1953 to 1966, and became a member of the Privy Council
in 1954.
He married Mary Duthie in 1921, and they had 3 children.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
, CB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, DSO & Bar
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, MC
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....
(23 June 1894 – 4 March 1972) was a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
military leader, lawyer, and Chief Justice
Chief Justice of New Zealand
The Chief Justice of New Zealand is the head of the New Zealand judiciary, and presides over the Supreme Court of New Zealand. Before the establishment of the latter court in 2004 the Chief Justice was the presiding judge in the High Court of New Zealand and was also ex officio a member of the...
.
Born at Masterton, New Zealand, he attended Palmerston North Boys' High School
Palmerston North Boys' High School
Palmerston North Boys' High School is a state secondary school for boys located in Palmerston North, New Zealand.-Location:Palmerston North Boys' High School is located on Featherston Street, between the intersections of Rangitikei Street and North Street....
and the University of Otago
University of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
. He joined the New Zealand Expeditionary Force
New Zealand Expeditionary Force
The New Zealand Expeditionary Force was the title of the military forces sent from New Zealand to fight for Britain during World War I and World War II. Ultimately, the NZEF of World War I was known as the First New Zealand Expeditionary Force...
as a private in 1915, but was soon commissioned as an officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
. He departed for overseas service in October 1915, attached to the New Zealand Rifle Brigade
New Zealand Rifle Brigade
The New Zealand Rifle Brigade , affectionately known as The Dinks, was formed on 1 May 1915 as the 3rd Brigade of the New Zealand Division, part of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. During the first World War it fought in Egypt, against the Senussi, and then on the Western Front...
. As a company
Company (military unit)
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
commander he won a Military Cross at the Somme and was wounded in 1917. Returning to France, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
and given command of the 4th Battalion of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade in 1918 and was awarded a DSO. He also received the Croix de Guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
and was mentioned in despatches twice.
After the war Barrowclough became a solicitor, and after a brief period of inactive service, in 1921 he joined the Territorial Force, subsequently commanding the 1st Battalion, Otago Regiment. From 1930 he commanded the 3rd New Zealand Infantry Brigade, but resigned in 1931 following the discontinuation of compulsory military training.
He rejoined the Army in 1939 and led the New Zealand Division's 6th Brigade during the Greek campaign and in North Africa. He received a bar to the DSO for his actions during the Crusader offensive in November 1941.
Barrowclough returned to New Zealand early in 1942 to lead the 3rd New Zealand Division and finally the New Zealand Pacific Forces. Under his command, the division played a role in the Solomons campaign, including three amphibious landings. The division was disbanded to provide reinforcements for the New Zealand forces in Europe. His awards included the United States Legion of Merit and the Companion of the Bath (CB).
He was Chief Justice of New Zealand
Chief Justice of New Zealand
The Chief Justice of New Zealand is the head of the New Zealand judiciary, and presides over the Supreme Court of New Zealand. Before the establishment of the latter court in 2004 the Chief Justice was the presiding judge in the High Court of New Zealand and was also ex officio a member of the...
from 1953 to 1966, and became a member of the Privy Council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
in 1954.
He married Mary Duthie in 1921, and they had 3 children.