Biography

Harry Barron was born on 11^th August 1847 at Tunbridge Wells, East Sussex, England. He was educated there and at Woolwich. In 1867, aged 20, he entered the Royal Artillery as a lieutenant, was promoted to colonel by 1874 and Major-General in 1904. He became chief instructor of the School of Gunnery at Shoeburyness, near the mouth of the Thames. He eventually was given command of the Royal Artillery in the Thames district. He also held a similar command in Malta from 1904.

He was made a Knight Commander of St Michael and St George (K.C.M.G.) and a Commander of the Victorian Order (C.V.O.). On his retirement from active service in 1909 he was appointed Governor of Tasmania. This term of office lasted from 29th September, 1909 until 8^th March 1913.

Sir Harry was then appointed to Western Australia as Governor for four years. In 1917 he returned to England and retired to Weybridge, Surrey. He died there on 27^th March 1921.

In 1910 Walter Perrin and the Reverend J. S. Bryers, rector of St. John’s Church at the time, gave to the church four stained-glass windows for the choir vestry. Each displays the heraldic arms of people whose lives have touched St. John’s. The arms in the window for Sir Harry Barron were established in the Visitation of London 1633-1634, to a family of Barron, and it is possible Sir Harry Barron was descended from the original grantee.

As the arms are intended to represent Sir Harry, and as he did not establish for himself a pedigree or entitlement, it can only be said that at some time the Barron family, or Sir Harry himself, assumed these arms. The colours have not been interpreted correctly as the blue area should be red. The motto is mis-spelt and the author is not willing to attempt a translation. The blazon reads:
Arms:
Az. two lions passant quardant Ar.
Crest:
On a wreath out of clouds, pp, issuing rays Or holding a broken sword Ar. hilt and pommel Or.”
Motto:  sert fortnam domis

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