35 Facts About Harold Barrowclough

Harold Barrowclough finished the First World War in command of a battalion in the New Zealand Rifle Brigade.

Harold Barrowclough resumed duty in the Territorial Force, serving until 1931 when he moved to Auckland to join a law firm based there.

Harold Barrowclough commanded an infantry brigade in the 2nd New Zealand Division during the campaign in Greece and Operation Crusader.

Harold Barrowclough returned to the legal profession, and in 1953 was appointed Chief Justice of New Zealand.

Harold Barrowclough established a permanent Court of Appeal for New Zealand and served on the Privy Council for a time.

Harold Barrowclough retired in 1966 and died in Auckland in 1972 at the age of 77.

Harold Eric Barrowclough was born at Masterton, New Zealand, on 23 June 1894, the son of a civil engineer, Alfred Barrowclough, and his wife.

Harold Barrowclough was prefect and won a university scholarship in 1912.

Harold Barrowclough showed leadership potential and within four months had been commissioned as a second lieutenant.

Harold Barrowclough departed for overseas service in October 1915 having been promoted to lieutenant and posted to the New Zealand Rifle Brigade.

Harold Barrowclough saw brief service during the Senussi campaign in the Middle East with the 2nd Battalion of the brigade.

In 1916, with the Rifle Brigade now serving on the Western Front as part of the New Zealand Division, Harold Barrowclough was regarded as an outstanding officer and in March was promoted to captain.

Harold Barrowclough was awarded the Croix de Guerre for the same action.

Harold Barrowclough returned to France in March 1918 as a temporary major and took up command of a company.

Harold Barrowclough was in command of a battalion up against a strong position stoutly defended by the enemy.

Harold Barrowclough gained good information from personal reconnaissances, during one of which the enemy counter-attacked.

Harold Barrowclough rallied his men, and, leading them forward, drove back the enemy with bomb and bayonet.

Harold Barrowclough was later mentioned in dispatches for his role in this engagement.

Harold Barrowclough rejoined the Territorial Force, and from 1924 to 1929 commanded the 1st Battalion, Otago Regiment.

Harold Barrowclough resigned from the Territorial Force in 1931 when he accepted an offer of a partnership in the Auckland law firm Russell, McVeagh, Bagnall and Macky.

Harold Barrowclough quickly developed a high profile in the Auckland law establishment.

Harold Barrowclough rejoined the 6th Infantry Brigade in October 1940 and, disappointed with its quality, put considerable emphasis on training.

Harold Barrowclough later fought in Operation Crusader, the campaign to lift the siege of Tobruk.

Harold Barrowclough received a bar to his DSO for his leadership during the Crusader offensive, having already been awarded the Greek War Cross and a mention in despatches for his work in Greece.

Harold Barrowclough embarked for New Zealand in early 1942 but during his transit, the commanding officer of the Pacific Section became seriously ill and was invalided home to be immediately replaced by Major General Owen Mead.

Harold Barrowclough was eventually posted as the commander of the Northern Division with the rank of major general.

Harold Barrowclough was responsible for the defence of the upper North Island, and for the next few months oversaw the reorganisation and training of his new command.

Harold Barrowclough immediately overhauled its structure and removed many officers who he considered too old for frontline duty, replacing them with personnel who had experience with the 2NZEF in Greece, Crete or North Africa.

Harold Barrowclough implemented training programs for his new command; most of its personnel had been engaged in the construction of fortifications while in Fiji, which had left little opportunity for intensive tactical training and exercises.

Conscious that his division was the only sizeable non-American unit in a theatre of operations having an overall American command structure, Harold Barrowclough requested, and received, a charter that allowed him to seek instructions from the New Zealand Government if he felt the division was to be involved in operations that could result in significant casualties.

Harold Barrowclough was unhappy at this decision and his relationship with Army headquarters in Wellington and its Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Edward Puttick, became strained.

In early 1944, Harold Barrowclough commanded a force of nearly 16,500 men during the Battle of the Green Islands, only a third of which were elements of his own division.

Ever since the formation of the 3rd Division, Harold Barrowclough had been aware that New Zealand's ability to keep it and the 2nd New Zealand Division in the field was limited.

Harold Barrowclough hoped for a suitable position with the 2nd New Zealand Division, possibly taking over from Freyberg.

Harold Barrowclough became a member of the Privy Council, was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to New Zealand in 1954.