Captain Eric J Barron

(1900-1987)

Eric John Barron was born 05 June 1900 in Tavistock, Devon, England. He served in the Merchant Navy during WW1 before obtaining a Master’s certificate in Newcastle NSW. After a tragic accident he relocated to WA where he lived in East Fremantle the rest of his life. He was called up again during WW2 to serve with the Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserves (RANVR) as Captain of the HMAS Warrnambool and HMAS Kybra

From 1921-1925 Eric was registered as a Seaman in NSW. In 1923 he married Mona Jane Thomas (1905-1991) from Newcastle, NSW.

1923 A quiet wedding was solemnised at the Mission to Seamen's Church on Saturday, December 29, when Mona, fifth daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. Thomas, Stockton, was married to Eric John eldest son of the Rev. John Barron, Ballywalter, County Down. Ireland. The bride entered the church on the arm of her father, who subsequently gave her away. She was attired in a gown of silver grey georgette, heavily beaded with hat to tone. She carried a sheath of lilies, which, with a cheque, was the gift of the bridegroom. Mr. H. D. Thomas, brother of the bride, acted as best man. Mr. and Mrs. Barron left for Sydney, where the honeymoon was spent. (reference)

In 1925 son Bruce Douglas was born.

In 1928, working as the Master of the Iron Chief- Eric was involved in a terrible shipwreck:

 1928 CAPTAIN BARRON CHARGED. Following the stranding of the Iron Chief on Mermaid Reef on April 1 last, Captain Barron was charged before a court of marine inquiry in Sydney last Friday with having neglected to use due precaution in the navigation of the vessel. Captain Eric M Barron (sic mistake) made many trips to Coffs Harbour in the Iron Chief and was expert in the way he handled the loading of the ship at the jetty…Captain Barron is only a young man. In his evidence regarding the stranding he said the weather was showery, but between rain squalls the visibility was good… (reference)

His defence lawyer Mr. Evans, submitting that there would be no purpose in meting out punishment merely for retribution or vengeance said;

“The youthful master, of the Iron Chief has already paid a price in learning his final lesson. I put it to the Court that the whole thing was due to an error of Judgment’’ (reference)

Sadly, as a result of the court case (25 April 1928) his Master’s certificate was suspended for six months:

The Marine Court (Sydney) today suspended the certificate of Eric John Barron, master of the steamer Iron Chief, which was stranded on Mermaid Reef, for six months. The court found that he showed carelessness in the navigation of his vessel, that he also failed in his duty in not altering the course to seawards when Crowdy Head became obscured by rain squalls, thereby failing to keep the ship in safe waters. The court considered the navigation of the vessel generally, indicated over confidence on the part of the master, and lack of appreciation of his responsibility as master of the vessel. (reference)

In 1929 his second son John Richard was born.

The family moved to Fremantle, Western Australia and in 1931, lived at 189 Canning Highway, East Fremantle, and Eric worked as a Stevedore, employed by Nicholls and Co. Ltd., Fremantle.

From 1933 until 1938 the family lived at 33 Allen St, East Fremantle, where Mona bred champion breed chickens. From 1932 until 1938 she won many awards for her chickens in the Wagin Agricultural Show ( reference) 

With the advent of WW2, and called up for service, in 1939, Eric enlisted in the Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve, in Fremantle.

Because he had a Masters certificate he was quickly awarded the rank of Lieutenant. Eric took the Italian prize ship Remo, which was captured in Fremantle, to the Eastern States. In 1941 he was given command of the brand new corvette- the Warrnambool.

HMAS Warrnambool (I) was one of sixty Australian Minesweepers (commonly known as corvettes) built during World War II in Australian shipyards as part of the Commonwealth Government's wartime shipbuilding programme. She was commissioned in the RAN at Sydney on 23 September 1941 under the command of Lieutenant Eric J Barron RANR(S). Warrnambool (I) was immediately engaged in patrols in Bass Strait before proceeding to northern Australian waters. She was present at Darwin when the first Japanese air raid occurred on 19 February 1942, but sustained no damage or casualties. The following day the ship rescued 73 survivors of the chartered US Army transport ship DON ISIDRO which had been attacked and set on fire by Japanese dive bombers. During the rescue operation Warrnambool (I) was bombed by a Japanese flying boat, but sustained no damage or casualties. The ship carried out five evacuations or rescue trips, been present during 18 air raids, and ferried 4,000 troops in New Guinea. In July 1942, in company with HMAS  Southern Cross, she carried Netherlands East Indies troops and stores from Darwin to Dobo, in the Aru Islands. In September 1942 Warrnambool (I) rescued survivors of the force from Dobo. Later the ship assisted in the rescue of personnel of HMAS Voyager (II), which had grounded at Betano on the south coast of Timor while landing Australian troops.

From 28 March 1943- October 1943 Lieutenant Commander EJ Barron, RANR(S) was Commanding officer of the KYBRA

MV Kybra was a passenger and cargo motor vessel requisitioned for naval service on 8 July 1940 and sailed for Sydney to be fitted out as an auxiliary anti-submarine vessel. She was commissioned HMAS Kybra on 30 September 1940 as a tender to the anti-submarine training establishment, HMAS Rushcutter. Over the next five years she served in eastern Australian waters as an escort vessel out of Sydney. In March 1943, she was attached as a seagoing radar training ship to the RAN radar school located at South Head. On 12 May 1943, she escorted SS Ormiston, damaged after being torpedoed by a Japanese submarine, back into Sydney. On 19 October 1945, Kybra departed Sydney to return to Western Australia. She was decommissioned at Fremantle on 23 November 1945. (reference)

For several months Eric Barron was port director at Lae. One of the most amazing things that happened during the war was that in Sept 1945 both he and his son Bruce – who had joined up in 1942, were able to meet in Japan:

With Royal Australian Naval ships which entered Japan are Lieutenant-Commander E. J. Barron R.A.N.R. and his 20-year-old son Bruce, both of 38 Alexander Road, East Fremantle. They are pictured at right the son on the left. Father is in command of corvette Launceston, while Bruce is a sub-lieutenant on H.M.A.S. Shropshire, previously served in the Oraro, and Kapunda. When father and son met in Newcastle (N.S.W.) in September, 1943, and were about to part, Lieutenant Commander Barron said, 'Cheerio, son; I will see you in Tokio.' His prophetic farewell has now come true. Daily News, Monday 3 September 1945, page 6 (reference)

During and after WW2, from 1940-1963 the Barron family lived at 38 Alexandra Road, East Fremantle.

Once demobbed Eric became a scoutmaster for the Fremantle Sea Scouts:

1946 Sea Scouts Get Boat Ready- Fremantle 69 Sea Scouts Troop are engaged in rigging out their boat to resume full activities after curtailment during the war. The troop is limited to five patrols, totaling 30 boys, aged between 11 and 18. Captain E. J. Barron, who had six years service with the R.A.N.V.R. in World War II is the troop's scoutmaster. Captain Barron today expressed appreciation to Petterson and Co., Fremantle shipwrights who had repaired the boat free of cost, and to Fremantle's marine surveyor Captain C. R. Cox, for the gift of a mooring buoy. Daily News, 19 December 1946, page 12 (reference)

1950 Chemists of the Fremantle branch of the Pharmaceutical Guild have bought two 18 ft clinker-built boats as a gift for the Fremantle sea scout troop. The boats, named after former members of the guild who died on active service during World War II, will be presented to the troop this afternoon. The boats-named the W. E. Thompson and the M. Bradshaw -will be blessed by the padre of the Seamen's Mission (the Rev. Hutchinson) before they are handed over to the leader of the sea scouts troop (Capt. E. J. Barron) …The boats would be used mostly in the river, but occasionally they would be taken outside the harbour, for naval exercises. Each sea scout troop in the metropolitan area patrol led a section of the river and assisted yachtsmen when necessary. (reference) 

In March 1951 son Bruce Douglas Barron married Marjorie Jean Farrell in Narrogin. The wedding and reception held is described in this article (reference)

In 1958 Son John Richard Barron (seaman), with his wife Margaret Ann Mills (nurse) were living at 38 Alexandra Road with his parents.  

In December 1967 Eric’s son John Richard Barron was appointed Lieutenant (Special Branch), with the Royal Australian Naval Reserve.

From 1968-1980 Eric and Mona lived at 75 View Terrace, East Fremantle, Eric still gave his occupation as ‘mariner’. The house overlooked the river and was not far away from the Sea Scouts hall.

In 1987 Eric John Barron died in East Fremantle aged 87.

Mona died in 1991, aged 86 in East Fremantle.

Sons John Richard died in 2003, aged 74 and Bruce Douglas died 2007, aged 82.

If you have any photos or further information please contact jo@museumofperth.com.au