Lilian Vaughan BARRON

Born1878 St. Helier, Jersey, CI
Died1949 Acre, Palestine and was buried there.
FatherMajor-general Sir Harry BARRON KCMG CVO (1847 – 1921)
MotherClara Emily KELLY (1857 – 1903)

Biography and Notes

Lillian's photograph portrays a beautiful and tranquil woman, but she had a keen and analytical mind, and her letters and diaries show that she was well aquainted with the international situation; indeed, in her correpondence with Queen Marie (of Romania) during 1935-36 she predicted the imminence of war.

Lillian's grasp of the political situation in Palestine was acute, and she was impatient of politicians who stirred up nationalist passions. There exist letters she wrote to leading Arab families deploring in strong language their political activities and stringently exhorting them to learn to live in peace with the Jews and not continually seek confrontation. Jews and Arabs worked peacefully together at the stud farm and she saw no reason why this state of affairs should not prevail elsewhere. When she espoused a cause she did so with all her heart, and she expressed her opinions vehemently.

During her later years Lillian was severely stricken with arthritis and was often in great pain, having to walk with a stick - sometimes two - and the way in which she coped with her infirmity showed great courage and determination. She derived some comfort from her talent as a watercolourist.

Life Events

1897Married Capt Charles FINDLAY in The Cathedral, Gibraltar
1898Birth of son Captain Victor Alexander Charles FINDLAY
1898Death of husband Capt Charles FINDLAY
1901Married Lt. Col. Francis Edward de Cartaret CHEVALLIER RA in (Diss 1906) St Nicholas Cole Abbey, London
1903Death of mother Clara Emily KELLY
1907Married Brigadier General Angus John McNEILL CB, CBE, DSO in Kensington, London
1909Birth of son Major General John Malcolm (Jock) McNEILL
1921Death of father Major-general Sir Harry BARRON KCMG CVO
1946Death of son Captain Victor Alexander Charles FINDLAY
