Harold Barrowclough

Major General The Right Honourable Sir Harold Barrowclough KCMG CB DSO & Bar MC ED
Barrowclough, circa 1954
8th Chief Justice of New Zealand
In office 17 November 1953 – 17 January 1966
Nominated by	Sidney Holland
Appointed by	The Lord Norrie
Preceded by	Humphrey O'Leary
Succeeded by	Richard Wild
Personal details
Born	(1894-06-23)23 June 1894 Masterton, New Zealand
Died	4 March 1972(1972-03-04) (aged 77) Auckland, New Zealand
Military service
Branch/service	New Zealand Military Forces
Years of service	1913–1931 1940–1945
Rank	Major General
Commands	Northern Division 3rd Division
Battles/wars	First World War Western Front Second World War Battle of Greece Operation Crusader Solomon Islands campaign
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order & Bar Military Cross Efficiency Decoration Mentioned in dispatches (2) Croix de Guerre (France) War Cross (Greece) Legion of Merit (United States)

Major General Sir Harold Eric Barrowclough KCMG, CB, DSO & Bar, MC, ED, PC (23 June 1894 – 4 March 1972) was a New Zealand military leader, lawyer and Chief Justice from 1953 to 1966.

Born in Masterton, Barrowclough commenced legal studies in 1913 and joined the Territorial Force the same year. In 1915, partway through his law degree, he volunteered for service abroad with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force and fought on the Western Front. He finished the First World War in command of a battalion in the New Zealand Rifle Brigade. After the war he finished his law studies and became a successful lawyer. He also resumed duty in the Territorial Force, serving until 1931 when he moved to Auckland to join a law firm based there.

Following the outbreak of the Second World War Barrowclough volunteered for service with the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force (2NZEF). He commanded an infantry brigade in the 2nd New Zealand Division during the campaign in Greece and Operation Crusader. In 1942, he was recommended for divisional command by his superior officer, Major General Bernard Freyberg, and was given the 3rd Division, which he led through the Solomon Islands campaign. When the division was disbanded in late 1944, he was left without a command and was eventually discharged from the 2NZEF. He returned to the legal profession, and in 1953 was appointed Chief Justice of New Zealand. He established a permanent Court of Appeal for New Zealand and also served on the Privy Council for a time. He retired in 1966 and died in Auckland in 1972 at the age of 77.