Jack Barley

English cricketer and colonial administrator

Jack Charles Barley (4 December 1887 – 26 October 1956) was an English cricketer and a British Colonial Service administrator. A right handed batsman and wicket keeper, he played four first class matches, all for different teams. He scored 12 runs in eight innings and made five dismissals: one stumping and four catches.

His debut came for Sussex against Cambridge University in 1908; he had a quiet match, taking only one catch and scoring 0 and 1 with the bat. The following year he played for HDG Leveson Gower's XI against Oxford University, for Worcestershire against the same opposition, and finally for Oxford University against Surrey. Barley has one minor claim to fame: he shared in Worcestershire's record eleventh wicket partnership – albeit one of just 9 – with Maurice Jewell in their 12 a side match against Oxford University.

He joined the administration of the British Western Pacific Territories after leaving Oxford University in 1911. Barley was appointed to work in the civil service in the Solomon Islands, as District Officer at Tulagi, before succeeding Arthur Grimble as the British Resident Commissioner in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands from 18 October 1933. Barley's tenure ended officially in December 1941 following the Japanese occupation of the Gilbert Islands, however Ronald Garvey had replaced him as Acting Resident Commissioner from 1938 to 1939. Then Cyril George Fox Cartwright was acting Resident Commissioner until Vivian Fox Strangways took up his appointment as Resident Commissioner. Barley died at Surfers Paradise, Queensland, Australia on 26 October 1956.