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John Henry Barrett MBE (21 July 1913-1999) was a conservationist, author and broadcaster.

Born in Kings Lynn, Norfolk, John lived in Pembrokeshire for 50 years. He read Economics at Cambridge University and then worked as a Forest Officer in Burma.

Second World War
Before the war, John joined the RAF and served with Bomber Command reaching the rank of Wing Commander. During the early part of the war he was shot down and became a prisoner-of-war. The next years were spent in a succession of prisoner-of-war camps across Germany and Poland; Oflag VIB (Warburg), Oflag XXI (Schubin), Stalag Luft II (Sagan) (where he was part of the support team for the 'Wooden Horse' escape)and Stalag IIIa (Luckenwalde). It was in the large Oflag at Doessel bei Warburg, that John met up with John Buxton, Peter Conder and George Waterston. In their company John developed his life long interest in birds, which later he turned to such good use in Wales. These four recorded migration pattterns and the minutiae of tree sparrow and chaffinch nesting behaviour.

Post War
In 1947 he became the Warden of Dale Fort Field Centre which included the Skokholm Bird Observatory. Dale Ford was established as a centre for the study of marine biology with Skokholm flourishing as a bird Observatory.

He established the Pembrokeshire Countryside Unit in Broad Haven in 1968 and ran guided walks along the coastal footpaths.

Books
Barrett, J.H. & Young, C.M. (1958). Collins Pocket Guide to the Seashore. Collins London