Chaplain 3rd Class Humphrey Gordon BARCLAY MC
Royal Army Clerical Department attached to the 9th Lancers

Date of birth: 23rd May 1882
Date of death: 2nd October 1955

Died aged 73
Unknown
Humphrey Gordon Barclay was born at Bletchingley in Surrey on the 23rd of May 1882 the eldest son of Colonel Henry Albert Barclay CVO JP DL, King's Own Norfolk Imperial Yeomanry, a gentleman, and Marion Louisa (nee Hoare) Barclay of "Underhills", Bletchingley, Surrey and of Hanworth Hall in Norfolk. He was christened at Christ Church Hampstead on the 9th of July 1882.

He was educated at Hazelwood School until December 1895 where he was a member of the Cricket XI in 1895 and was Captain of the Football XI in the same year. The school magazine wrote of his 1895 cricket season: - "If he is allowed to stay in for a few overs is liable to make things hot for the field, being a very fine hitter with a fair defence. An unreliable field. Will have left by next summer."

The magazine wrote the following on his football season in 1895: - "Captain, and a right good one, full of energy and not afraid of using his voice. A desperate hard working centre forward, and from his size and strength irresistible, but a most wild shot and often lamed himself and had to play back, which he did extremely well."

When he left the school magazine wrote: - "Should be heard of at Eton in the athletic world, and if he can only add a sounder defence to his hitting powers will make a great cricketer, while his size and strength should make him a tower of defence in the football field. He is also a capital fencer and boxer."

He went on to Eton College where he was in H. Boadbent’s house leaving in the summer of 1900. He went on to Trinity Hall Cambridge in October the same year. After further study at Litchfield Theological College he was ordained as a Deacon in 1905 and became a Priest in 1906. He was appointed as Chaplain of the Mission to Seamen in London from 1905 to 1914.

He was married at Cromer Parish Church to Beatrice Evermar (nee Bond-Cabbell) on the 18th of October 1906 with his brother John Francis Barclay acting as best man, following which the couple did work for a short period at the Mission to Seamen in Calcutta. They had twin sons Timothy and Michael, born on the 18th of June 1923, and three daughters, Marion Hope, born at Calcutta on the 15th of July 1909 Ruth Evelyn, born on the 8th of May 1911, and Margaret Elizabeth.

In early 1910 he was appointed Chaplain of the Missions for Seamen for Tees, a position he held until 1914.

On the outbreak of war he applied for a commission as a Chaplain for a twelve month period on the 30th of November 1914 and was appointed as a Chaplain 4th Class in the Army Chaplains Department on the 1st of December 1914, which was the same day as he landed in France. He renewed his term of engagement for a further twelve months on the 23rd of October 1915 and on the 16th of November 1916. He was attached to the 1st Cavalry Division in 1916, was promoted to Chaplain 3rd Class and was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 4th of January 1917). He was attached to the 9th Lancers and was awarded the Military Cross which was announced in the London Gazette of the 18th of January 1918 and was mentioned in despatches three times altogether.

The recommendation for his award, which was made on the 4th of December 1917, read as follows: -

"His work since the beginning of the present operations on the 20th of November 1917 has been brought to notice on several occasions and from different quarters. In the mounted actions about Noyelles Sur L'Escaut on the 20th and 21st and with the dismounted Bns S.W. of Bourlon Wood on subsequent days, his care and solicitude for the troops in the most advanced portion of our battle front was most praiseworthy. His complete disregard for his own safety, his indomitable spirit, and his unflagging energy were an example and inspiration to all ranks and the greatest help to the wounded and dying."

The citation for his Military Cross appeared in the London Gazette of the 25th of April 1918 and read:-

“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in action. He assisted the wounded and ministered to the dying with utter disregard of danger. He set a splendid example to all ranks.”

He was serving as Chaplain to Brighton Grove Military Hospital at Newcastle-on-Tyne when he was demobilised on the 27th of February 1919.

In 1919 he was appointed to the Rectories of Carleton Forehoe and Crownthorpe in Norfolk and was also Honorary Chaplain to the Bishop of Norfolk. In 1921 he took the post of Rector of Southrepps and lived at Southrepps Rectory, Norwich in Norfolk until 1926. In recognition of his services during the war he was appointed as an Honorary Chaplain 4th Class with the rank of Captain on the 1st of September 1921. From 1926 to 1940 he was Rector of Tittleshall with Godwick and Wellington and was living at Tittleshall Rectory, King’s Lynn. In 1940 he was appointed as domestic chaplain to His Majesty King George VI at the Royal Chapel Windsor and lived at the Chaplain’s Lodge, Windsor Great Park. In August 1952, following the death of the king he was retained as Chaplain to the Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. He was appointed Commander of the Royal Victorian Order on the 20th of May 1946 and he returned to Southrepps, remaining as the Royal Chaplain.

He was appointed to the College of Chaplains in the Queen’s Ecclesiastical Household on the 5th of August 1952.

His funeral was held at Hanworth Parish Church.

Went on to Eton College

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