John Coleraine Hanbury Barcroft CMG OSS (2 August 1908 – 6 June 1958) was a British colonial administrative service officer with the Government of Sarawak who also served as British Resident to Brunei.
John Coleraine Hanbury Barcroft | |
|---|---|
| 17th British Resident to Brunei | |
| In office 1951–1954 | |
| Preceded by | Eric Ernest Falk Pretty |
| Succeeded by | John Orman Gilbert |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 August 1908 |
| Died | 6 June 1958 (aged 49) Lawas, Crown Colony of Sarawak (present day Malaysia) |
| Education | Weymouth College |
| Occupation |
|
Early life and education
editBarcroft was born on 2 August 1908. He was educated at Weymouth College and in Continental Europe.[1][2]
Career
editIn February 1930, he joined the Sarawak civil service and was posted to the Sri Aman Division. Serving there from 1930–1937, he quickly learnt the Dyak language and studied their laws and customs. In 1931, he was chosen by the Tuan Muda to accompany him to a rebel area, and was present as interpreter at his meeting with Asun who later became a rebel leader. For the next two years, he was employed in operations against the rebels who surrendered in 1933.[1][2][3]
In 1937, he was appointed First District Officer, Meluan, and then served in Lawas and Upper Sarawak. When the Japanese invasion of Sarawak took place in December 1941, he was captured and interned in Kuching as a POW. After the Second World War, after a short stay in Britain, he returned to Sarawak to assist with talks with the Dyaks on the cession of Sarawak to the British Crown, and in 1946 was appointed Resident of Simanggang, and was awarded the Order of the Star of Sarawak. In 1947, he was appointed Resident of the Sibu Division.[1][2][3][4]
In 1951, he was seconded to Brunei as Resident and promoted to senior Resident in 1952. In 1954, he returned to Sarawak, and in 1955 was appointed acting Chief Secretary, and in the same year promoted to the posts of Financial Secretary, Government of Sarawak, and Adviser to the High Commissioner.[1][2][3][5]
Barcroft died on 6 June 1958 of a heart attack, aged 49, while on an official tour in Lawas, Sarawak.[1][2][3][6]
Honours
editBarcroft was appointed Officer of the Order of the Star of Sarawak (OSS) on 20 June 1946. He was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 1957 Birthday Honours.[1][2][3][7]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f A. & C. Black Ltd. (1964). Who was who, 1951-1960 : a companion to Who's who. Internet Archive. London : Black. p. 62.
- ^ a b c d e f Ho Ah Chon (1948). Kuching 1950 1959 Sir Anthony Foster Abells Era Vol 1 [ Ho Ah Chon].
- ^ a b c d e D.C.White (30 June 1958). "John Coleraine Hanbury Barcroft" (PDF). Sarawak Gazette. p. 1.
- ^ "Dyaks". The Straits Times. 27 January 1947. p. 4.
- ^ "Sarawak tax up to aid development". The Straits Times. 10 December 1956. p. 4.
- ^ "Memorial plan". The Straits Budget. 27 August 1958. p. 5.
- ^ "Page 3371 | Supplement 41089, 4 June 1957 | London Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-11-12.