Barclay was born in Tauranga in 1887 and was the son of David Barclay, the Te Reo Māori interpreter for the 15th New Zealand Parliament. Barclay affiliated with the Ngāti Kahungunu iwi.
His brother, Walter Barclay, was a New Zealand professional rugby union footballer, sports administrator and military officer. He captained the New Zealand Māori Rugby Team and holds the record for the highest number of tries scored for the team with 40 career tries.
On his return to Australia he played for Auckland in their second match against Wellington.[6] He again toured Australia with New Zealand Māori in 1909.
Dannevirke and Hawke's Bay
By 1912 Barclay was playing for Dannevirke. He played in 2 matches for the sub-union team against Napier scoring 2 tries. He was then selected for the Hawke's Bay team.[7] He played 4 matches in that season against Auckland, Hamilton, Wanganui, and the touring New South Wales.
Barclay, along with his brother Walter, was selected for the New Zealand Māori Pioneer Battalion rugby team that toured Europe following the conclusion of World War I.
"...exceptionally good work during the period 25 February to 16–17 September 1918. He is exceedingly cool under fire, and sets a splendid example to his men. On 8 September he with two sections of his platoon, was employed in Metz-en-Coutre. The enemy concentrated a heavy artillery fire for four hours on the village. Notwithstanding this he kept his men well in hand, and completed the task upon which he was engaged. He then withdrew his party to a place of safety in good order."[8]
He was presented with his decoration by Brigadier-General Keith Stewart while stationed at No. 5 Camp, Larkhill while the battalion waited to return home to New Zealand. Barclay concluded his service with the rank of Sergeant.
Bibliography
Cowan, James (1926). The Maoris in the Great War: A History of The New Zealand Native Contingent and Pioneer Battalion: Gallipoli, 1915, France and Flanders, 1916–1918.
Pugsley, Christopher (2019). Te Hokowhitu a Tu : the Maori Pioneer Battalion in the First World War ([New edition] ed.). Auckland [N.Z.] ISBN978-0-947506-38-4. OCLC1057617462.
Mulholland, Malcolm (2009). Beneath the Māori Moon : An illustrated history of Māori rugby. Huia. ISBN978-1-86969-305-3. OCLC76237845.
Soutar, Monty (2019). Whitiki! Whiti! Whiti! E! Māori In the First World War. Bateman Books. ISBN978-1-86953-958-0.
"New Zealand Military Force records for BARCLAY, Francis – WWI 16/1404, WWII 805423 – Army" natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2022-04-08
References
^"Football". Taranaki Herald. 23 May 1908. p. 3. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
^Polaschek, Alan (1983). The Complete NZ Distinguished Conduct Medal: An account of the New Zealand recipients of the Distinguished Conduct Medal. Christchurch, New Zealand: Medals Research.