Barclay-Harvey Passes Away

Today in Masonic History Barclay-Harvey passes away in 1969.

Malcolm Barclay-Harvey was a British politician.

Barclay-Harvey was born on March 2nd, 1890 in London, England. He was educated at Eton College and Christ Church College in Oxford, England. At the age of 19 he joined the Gordon Highlanders where he served from 1909 until 1915. During World War I he served with the Ministry of Munitions and from 1918 to 1919 he served in Paris. From 1939 to 1945 he was an honorary Colonel in the Gordon Highlanders.

Barclay-Harvey was first a candidate for Parliament in 1914. He later served in Parliament from Kincardine and Aberdeenshire West twice. Once from 1923 to 1929 and again from 1931 to 1939. He served twice as Parliamentary Private Secretary, essentially a liaison between non-parliament members from other branches of the government. In Barclay-Harvey's case it was first the Home Secretary from 1924 to 1929 and the Secretary of State for Scotland from 1932 to 1936.

In 1939, Barclay-Harvey was appointed as the Governor of South Australia, after which he resigned from the House of Commons. He moved with his family to Adelaide, taking office shortly after the start of World War II. The principal focus for Barclay-Harvey during his time as Governor was the war effort. His wife was active in that effort as well. His wife, Lady Muriel, founded the Lady Muriel Nurses' Club, visited numerous Red Cross branches and launched the first ship out of the Whyalla Shipyards. In 1941 she also opened the Pioneer Woman's Memorial Garden in Adelaide.

Barclay-Harvey and his wife spent much of their time at Marble Hill, the summer residence for the Governor. There they restored the gardens for the residence. Barclay-Harvey, who was an avid railway enthusiast set up a large scale model railway. In 1943, the South Australian Railway Institute named a new locomotive series after him. In 1940, he had a book published called A History of the Great North of Scotland Railway. He resigned as Governor in 1944 due to health issues.

After Barclay-Harvey resigned as Governor of South Australia, he and his wife retired to his Scottish Estate which he had inherited in 1924. He served as deputy lieutenant of Aberdeenshire and as a member of the Aberdeenshire City Council.

Barclay-Harvey passed away in London on November 17th, 1969.

Barclay-Harvey served as the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of South Australia during his term as Governor. When he returned to Scotland he also served as the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Scotland.

This article provided by Brother Eric C. Steele.