Bertram Francis Gurdon, 2nd Baron Cranworth KG, MC (13 June 1877 – 4 January 1964) was a British peer and soldier. Gurdon was the eldest son of

Robert Gurdon, 1st Baron Cranworth Robert Thornhagh Gurdon, 1st Baron Cranworth, (18 June 1829 – 13 October 1902) was a British Member of Parliament. Gurdon was the eldest son of Brampton Gurdon (1797–1881), of Letton Hall in Norfolk and of Grundisburgh Hall in Suffolk, who ...

and was educated at

Trinity College, Cambridge Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1546 by Henry VIII, King Henry VIII, Trinity is one of the largest Cambridge colleges, with the largest financial endowment of any college at either Cambridge ...

. He was commissioned a

second lieutenant Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank. Australia The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until ...

in the Norfolk Artillery on 7 March 1900, and volunteered for active service in the

Second Boer War The Second Boer War ( af, Tweede Vryheidsoorlog, , 11 October 189931 May 1902), also known as the Boer War, the Anglo–Boer War, or the South African War, was a conflict fought between the British Empire and the two Boer Republics (the Sout ...

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

. He was promoted to

lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often sub ...

on 25 August 1900. Two years into the war, he was wounded, but was discharged from hospital to duty in May 1902, shortly before the end of hostilities. He left

Cape Town Cape Town ( af, Kaapstad; , xh, iKapa) is one of South Africa's three capital cities, serving as the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. It is the legislative capital of the country, the oldest city in the country, and the second largest ...

on board the the following month, and arrived at

Southampton Southampton () is a port city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. It is located approximately south-west of London and west of Portsmouth. The city forms part of the South Hampshire built-up area, which also covers Po ...

in early July. He inherited his father's title in October 1902 and later became a

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

. On 18 July 1903, he married Vera Ridley (a cousin of

Matthew Ridley, 1st Viscount Ridley Matthew White Ridley, 1st Viscount Ridley, (25 July 1842 – 28 November 1904), known as Sir Matthew White Ridley, 5th Baronet, from 1877 to 1900, was a British Conservative statesman. He notably served as Home Secretary from 1895 to 1900. Bac ...

). In 1937, he was appointed Honorary Colonel of the 358th (Suffolk) Medium Regiment and on retiring in 1948, was made a

Knight of the Garter The Most Noble Order of the Garter is an order of chivalry founded by Edward III of England in 1348. It is the most senior order of knighthood in the British honours system, outranked in precedence only by the Victoria Cross and the George ...

. Lord Cranworth died in 1964 and his title passed to his grandson,

Philip Philip, also Phillip, is a male given name, derived from the Greek (''Philippos'', lit. "horse-loving" or "fond of horses"), from a compound of (''philos'', "dear", "loved", "loving") and (''hippos'', "horse"). Prominent Philips who popularize ...

(his only son Robert having been killed in action in

Libya Libya (; ar, ليبيا, Lībiyā), officially the State of Libya ( ar, دولة ليبيا, Dawlat Lībiyā), is a country in the Maghreb region in North Africa. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to Egypt–Libya bo ...

in 1942).

Arms

References

Burke's Peerage & Gentry

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Cranworth, Bertram Gurdon, 2nd Baron 1877 births 1964 deaths Royal Artillery officers British Army personnel of the Second Boer War Barons in the Peerage of the United Kingdom Knights of the Garter Recipients of the Military Cross Alumni of Trinity College, Cambridge