Harold Curwen Willan

Sir Harold Curwen Willan
CMG
Born29 February 1896
Died11 December 1971 (aged 75)
Alma materJesus College, Oxford
Occupation(s)Barrister, colonial judge and chief justice
Years active1920-1968
Children1 son

Sir Harold Curwen Willan CMG (29 February 1896 – 11 December 1971) was a British barrister, senior judge and chief justice, who served in Malaya, East Africa and South Africa.

Early life and education

Willan was born on 29 February 1896. He was educated at Kendal School, Westmorland and Jesus College, Oxford where he received his BA. He was called to the Bar of the Inner Temple, and in 1915 he joined the Inns of Court Officer Training Corps. From 1916-17, he served as Lieutenant in the Royal Regiment of Artillery of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in France, and was awarded the MC.[1][2]

Career

Willan went to Malaya in 1920 as a cadet[3] attached to the District Office, Batang Padang, becoming a passed cadet in Malay in 1923, after which he was appointed District Officer, Jelebu. Later he became Assistant District Officer, Kuala Kangsar; Director of Public Prosecutions, Federated Malay States;[4] Acting District Registrar and First Magistrate, Malacca,[5] and Deputy Legal Adviser Federated Malay States. He was appointed District Judge, Straits Settlements in 1932, and Deputy Legal Adviser, Federated Malay States in 1934.[1][2][6]

In 1937, he was appointed Solicitor General of Kenya,[7] and served as Chairman of the Labour Commission in 1939. In 1940, he was appointed Attorney-General of Zanzibar where he was awarded the Brilliant Star of Zanzibar.[8] In 1941, he was Legal Adviser, Civil Affairs, East Africa Command, and also acted as Chief Political Officer. In 1942, he was appointed President of the High Court of Ethiopia.[1]

In 1945, he returned to Malaya as Deputy Chief Civil Affairs Officer, Malay Peninsula, with rank of Brigadier and was mentioned twice in dispatches.[9][10] He served as Chief Justice of the Malayan Union in 1946 and of the Federation of Malaya from 1948 to 1950.[11] In 1952, he served as Chief Justice, Basutoland, the Bechuanaland Protectorate and Swaziland.[2][12] From 1952 to 1956 he served as Chief Justice of the United Kingdom High Commission Territories in South Africa, and from 1962 to 1968 he was Commissioner, Foreign Compensation Commission (FCC) serving as Vice-Chairman from 1967 to 1968.[1]

Personal life and death

Willan married Marjorie Rigg in 1922 and they had one son. He died on 11 December 1971.[1]

Honours

Willan was created a Knight Bachelor in the 1947 Birthday Honours.[13] He was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 1946 New Years Honours.[14] In 1917, he was awarded the Military Cross (MC).[15]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e None (1981). Who was who, 1971-1980 : a companion to Who's who. Internet Archive. New York : St. Martin's Press. p. 858. ISBN 978-0-312-87746-0.
  2. ^ a b c Relations, Great Britain Office of Commonwealth (1953). The Commonwealth Relations Office Year Book. H.M. Stationery Office. p. 246.
  3. ^ "F.M.S. Government Appointments". The Straits Times. 18 January 1921. p. 10.
  4. ^ "Mr. H. C. Willan". The Straits Echo. 3 September 1930. p. 672.
  5. ^ "Mainly About Malayans". The Straits Times. 10 January 1932. p. 4.
  6. ^ "F.M.S. Appointments". Malaya Tribune. 19 July 1934. p. 5.
  7. ^ "Appointed Solicitor-General, Kenya". The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser. 26 November 1936. p. 6.
  8. ^ "Mainly About Malayans". The Straits Times. 19 May 1940. p. 10.
  9. ^ "Mission to Malay Sultans & Malayans". The Straits Times. 13 October 1945. p. 3.
  10. ^ "Brigadier H. C. Willan Exorts Perak Chinese to co-operate". The Straits Chronicle. 29 October 1945. p. 1.
  11. ^ "Bar's Tribute to Sir H. C. Willan". Malaya Tribune. 17 June 1947. p. 5.
  12. ^ Relations, Great Britain Office of Commonwealth (1952). Annual Report on Swaziland. H.M. Stationery Office. p. 14.
  13. ^ "Page 2572 | Supplement 37977, 6 June 1947 | London Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  14. ^ "Page 9 | Issue 37407, 28 December 1945 | London Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  15. ^ "Page 8386 | Supplement 30234, 14 August 1917 | London Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-08-22.