Colonel John Roaf Barber Jr.

John was born on September 8, 1904 in Georgetown, the son of Major John Roaf Barber Sr. (Veteran of the Battle of Ridgeway, Fenian Raids) and his second wife Alberta Bessey. His half siblings were Francis, Charles, Hazel and Major Rene Raoul Barber (WW1). He was uncle to Keith Barber (WW2). The 1911 Canadian Census shows John as a young boy living with his widowed father John Sr., his brother Rene and Rene’s wife, their sister Hazel and three domestics in the Berwick Hall mansion that his father built in 1883 at 139 Main St. South, Georgetown.

John attended Georgetown High School. His military career began in the High School Cadet Corps from 1918-1923. Following graduation, he entered University College at the University of Toronto in 1923, graduating with a BA in 1927 and an MA in 1929. During this time he was commissioned in the Lorne Scots Regiment (formerly Halton Rifles) in October 1925. In June 1940 he was called to active service with the rank of Major and served overseas from June 1945 to April 1947. In April 1945 he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel. In 1949 he returned to reserve status and in was appointed Commanding Officer of the Lorne Scots, retiring from command in 1964. He was promoted to Colonel in 1972. The men that served under him spoke highly of him. The Canadian Forces Armoury in Georgetown (the base of the Lorne Scots) is named the Col J.R. Barber Armoury in his honour.

Colonel Barber was also a respected businessman. His business history began in 1929 when he was on permanent staff with Hart House Theatre until 1931, then becoming a member of the Toronto Stock Exchange until 1944. He was also a partner in Amos Barber and Company from 1934-1938. In 1960 he purchased Elmer C. Thompson Insurance and Travel Agency and 10 years later formed a new partnership…Barber and Henley Ltd. Insurance. He retired in 1980, but remained a Director. He was a member of the Royal Canadian Military Institute, the Empire Club and Branch 120 of the Royal Canadian Legion. Colonel Barber married Elizabeth Drennan Doran in 1940 and the couple took up residence at 44 Market St, Georgetown. He later married Sybil Mary Jones in 1949. The couple had no children.

Colonel Barber died suddenly on September 26,1991 and following a funeral from Knox Presbyterian Church he was buried with full military honours at Greenwood Cemetery Georgetown, near his father John Roaf Barber who led Georgetown’s early industry with the Barber Paper Mills.

Truly a Canadian Hero *Partially sourced from The Georgetown Herald October 2, 1991.

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