Harry Batterbee
Encyclopedia
Sir Harry Batterbee GCMG KCVO MA (1880–1976) was a prominent British
civil servant and diplomat
and first British High Commissioner to New Zealand.
) and from there won a scholarship to Hertford College, Oxford
. His stature, standing 6 ft 4in, lent itself to an excellent sporting reputation.
. His diplomatic career began in 1905 in the Colonial Office
in London. He was the private secretary to Walter Long MP, Secretary of State for the Colonies
, during the First World War and during the 1920s he was political secretary for two major Imperial tours. The first tour was the 1923-24 ‘Empire Cruise’ of a battle squadron of Royal Navy vessels led by HMS Hood
; the second was the 1927 Duke of York’s tour of Australia and New Zealand. He was appointed KCVO (Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order) after this tour. At this time he was placed in a new Whitehall department as one of the original members of the Dominions Office. In 1930 he became the Assistant Permanent Undersecretary of State for Dominion Affairs to his brother-in-law and fellow alumnus of Hertford College, Oxford
, Sir Edward Harding
with whom he served until 1939 (Batterbee was married to Harding's sister).
He and Harding wielded considerable influence from this office. In both 1930 and 1937 Batterbee acted as deputy secretary at the Imperial Conferences held in London; the latter of which was the last of its kind. In addition he carried out sensitive and largely unreported missions, such as to Newfoundland in 1933, after its government had collapsed under the weight of a severe financial crisis leading the British authorities to resume control of its affairs.
During this period he negotiated with Éamon de Valera
, the Prime Minister of Ireland which was then known still as a Dominion. Valera strenuously worked towards gaining full independence and at one point Batterbee tried to stop British plans to impose import duties on Irish farm produce. Although he failed in the short term, duties were lifted after a couple of years. Domestically, Sir Harry reportedly played an important part in resolving the crisis that arose when King Edward VIII was advised that he should abdicate if he wished to pursue his plans to marry Mrs Simpson.
In 1939 Harding was appointed the British High Commissioner to South Africa and at the same time Batterbee took up office as the first British High Commissioner to New Zealand having been appointed as such on July 27, 1938. His appointment eased relations with New Zealand which was increasingly unwilling to use the Governor as an intemediary between its own government and that of the United Kingdom
. The Second World War broke out soon afterward, and given its reach into the Pacific, it was not until its conclusion that Batterbee was finally able to retire. Batterbee was able to maintain a long-cultured network of correspondents even in wartime conditions where telegrams were largely restricted to matters of the highest urgency. His correspondents included Whitehall mandarins, fellow High Commissioners and soon-to-be Ambassadors, family and friends, ordinary citizens of the Empire.
, which became the Scott Polar Research Institute
at Cambridge
and even had a mountain range in Antarctica named after him. He also became a governor of his old Faversham school, and from 1961 to 1967 was chairman of the governors. He moved back to the town of his birth and joined the Faversham Society where he was instrumental in the struggle to avert Kent County Council
plans to give the town an inner ring road.
He died in 1976 and was buried at Faversham Parish Church in September 1976.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
civil servant and diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
and first British High Commissioner to New Zealand.
Early life
Harry Batterbee was born in 1880 in Faversham in his parents' house at 62 Newton Road. His father, Napoleon Batterbee, was the son of a compositor, and had come to the town in 1859 to teach at the District National Schools, which reportedly had a Europe-wide reputation for its excellent premises and progressive methods. Harry's mother, Sarah, was from a family of local grocers. In 1890 Harry started his education at Faversham Grammar School (now Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, FavershamQueen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Faversham
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School is a selective co-educational grammar school in Faversham, Kent, England. It was formed in 1967, when the Faversham Grammar School for Boys, the William Gibbs School for Girls and the Wreights School merged and moved into new accommodation opposite...
) and from there won a scholarship to Hertford College, Oxford
Hertford College, Oxford
Hertford College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is located in Catte Street, directly opposite the main entrance of the original Bodleian Library. As of 2006, the college had a financial endowment of £52m. There are 612 students , plus various visiting...
. His stature, standing 6 ft 4in, lent itself to an excellent sporting reputation.
Career
Batterbee was a career civil servant. He entered the Civil Service after graduating eventually specialising in handling Government relations with what were known as the Dominions of the British EmpireBritish Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
. His diplomatic career began in 1905 in the Colonial Office
Colonial Office
Colonial Office is the government agency which serves to oversee and supervise their colony* Colonial Office - The British Government department* Office of Insular Affairs - the American government agency* Reichskolonialamt - the German Colonial Office...
in London. He was the private secretary to Walter Long MP, Secretary of State for the Colonies
Secretary of State for the Colonies
The Secretary of State for the Colonies or Colonial Secretary was the British Cabinet minister in charge of managing the United Kingdom's various colonial dependencies....
, during the First World War and during the 1920s he was political secretary for two major Imperial tours. The first tour was the 1923-24 ‘Empire Cruise’ of a battle squadron of Royal Navy vessels led by HMS Hood
HMS Hood
Three ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Hood after several members of the Hood family, who were notable Navy officers: was a 91-gun second-rate ship of the line, originally laid down as HMS Edgar, but renamed in 1848 and launched in 1859. She was used for harbour service from 1872 and was...
; the second was the 1927 Duke of York’s tour of Australia and New Zealand. He was appointed KCVO (Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order) after this tour. At this time he was placed in a new Whitehall department as one of the original members of the Dominions Office. In 1930 he became the Assistant Permanent Undersecretary of State for Dominion Affairs to his brother-in-law and fellow alumnus of Hertford College, Oxford
Hertford College, Oxford
Hertford College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is located in Catte Street, directly opposite the main entrance of the original Bodleian Library. As of 2006, the college had a financial endowment of £52m. There are 612 students , plus various visiting...
, Sir Edward Harding
Edward John Harding
Sir Edward John Harding GCMG, KCB, MA was a prominent British civil servant and diplomat and former High Commissioner to South Africa.-Early life:...
with whom he served until 1939 (Batterbee was married to Harding's sister).
He and Harding wielded considerable influence from this office. In both 1930 and 1937 Batterbee acted as deputy secretary at the Imperial Conferences held in London; the latter of which was the last of its kind. In addition he carried out sensitive and largely unreported missions, such as to Newfoundland in 1933, after its government had collapsed under the weight of a severe financial crisis leading the British authorities to resume control of its affairs.
During this period he negotiated with Éamon de Valera
Éamon de Valera
Éamon de Valera was one of the dominant political figures in twentieth century Ireland, serving as head of government of the Irish Free State and head of government and head of state of Ireland...
, the Prime Minister of Ireland which was then known still as a Dominion. Valera strenuously worked towards gaining full independence and at one point Batterbee tried to stop British plans to impose import duties on Irish farm produce. Although he failed in the short term, duties were lifted after a couple of years. Domestically, Sir Harry reportedly played an important part in resolving the crisis that arose when King Edward VIII was advised that he should abdicate if he wished to pursue his plans to marry Mrs Simpson.
In 1939 Harding was appointed the British High Commissioner to South Africa and at the same time Batterbee took up office as the first British High Commissioner to New Zealand having been appointed as such on July 27, 1938. His appointment eased relations with New Zealand which was increasingly unwilling to use the Governor as an intemediary between its own government and that of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The Second World War broke out soon afterward, and given its reach into the Pacific, it was not until its conclusion that Batterbee was finally able to retire. Batterbee was able to maintain a long-cultured network of correspondents even in wartime conditions where telegrams were largely restricted to matters of the highest urgency. His correspondents included Whitehall mandarins, fellow High Commissioners and soon-to-be Ambassadors, family and friends, ordinary citizens of the Empire.
Later life
Sir Harry retired from the Civil Service in 1945 and began a period that was to last almost as long as his working life. He became Chairman of the British Antarctic SurveyBritish Antarctic Survey
The British Antarctic Survey is the United Kingdom's national Antarctic operation and has an active role in Antarctic affairs. BAS is part of the Natural Environment Research Council and has over 400 staff. It operates five research stations, two ships and five aircraft in and around Antarctica....
, which became the Scott Polar Research Institute
Scott Polar Research Institute
The Scott Polar Research Institute is a centre for research into the polar regions and glaciology worldwide. It is a sub-department of the Department of Geography in the University of Cambridge, located on Lensfield Road in the south of Cambridge ....
at Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
and even had a mountain range in Antarctica named after him. He also became a governor of his old Faversham school, and from 1961 to 1967 was chairman of the governors. He moved back to the town of his birth and joined the Faversham Society where he was instrumental in the struggle to avert Kent County Council
Kent County Council
Kent County Council is the county council that governs the majority of the county of Kent in England. It provides the upper tier of local government, below which are 12 district councils, and around 300 town and parish councils. The county council has 84 elected councillors...
plans to give the town an inner ring road.
He died in 1976 and was buried at Faversham Parish Church in September 1976.