Major-General Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...

Robert Clive Bridgeman, 2nd Viscount Bridgeman (1 April 1896 – 17 November 1982), styled The Honourable Robert Bridgeman between 1929 and 1935, was a

British Army The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...

officer and peer.

Background

Born in

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

and baptised at

St Paul's Cathedral St Paul's Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in London and is the seat of the Bishop of London. The cathedral serves as the mother church of the Diocese of London. It is on Ludgate Hill at the highest point of the City of London and is a Grad ...

, he was the son of

William Bridgeman, 1st Viscount Bridgeman William Clive Bridgeman, 1st Viscount Bridgeman, PC, JP, DL (31 December 1864 – 14 August 1935) was a British Conservative politician and peer. He notably served as Home Secretary between 1922 and 1924. He was also an active cricketer. Bac ...

, and his wife Caroline Beatrix Parker, daughter of Honourable Cecil Thomas Parker. His youngest brother was

Maurice Bridgeman Hon. Sir Maurice Richard Bridgeman (26 January 1904 – 18 June 1980) was a British businessman and civil servant. Biography Bridgeman was the third son of the William Bridgeman, 1st Viscount Bridgeman, and Caroline, Viscountess Bridgeman, DB ...

. He was educated at

Eton College Eton College () is a public school in Eton, Berkshire, England. It was founded in 1440 by Henry VI under the name ''Kynge's College of Our Ladye of Eton besyde Windesore'',Nevill, p. 3 ff. intended as a sister institution to King's College, C ...

and in 1935, he succeeded his father as viscount.

Military career

First World War

Bridgeman became 2nd lieutenant in the

Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own) The Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own) was an infantry rifle regiment of the British Army formed in January 1800 as the "Experimental Corps of Riflemen" to provide sharpshooters, scouts, and skirmishers. They were soon renamed the "Rifle ...

in 1914 and served during the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1916, and received the

Military Cross The Military Cross (MC) is the third-level (second-level pre-1993) military decoration awarded to officers and (since 1993) other ranks of the British Armed Forces, and formerly awarded to officers of other Commonwealth countries. The MC i ...

in the next year.

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty, in so skilfully training and-leading his company in an attack as to inflict heavy casualties upon the enemy with hardly any personal losses. He afterwards displayed great resource in keeping his headquarters informed of the situation, in spite of heavy hostile barrage, during which he was wounded, but remained at his post, showing a fine example to all ranks.

After the war, he was private secretary to his father in 1918 and became captain in 1921. He attended the

Staff College, Camberley Staff College, Camberley, Surrey, was a staff college for the British Army and the presidency armies of British India (later merged to form the Indian Army). It had its origins in the Royal Military College, High Wycombe, founded in 1799, which i ...

from 1927 to 1928. His fellow students included

Oliver Leese Lieutenant-General Sir Oliver William Hargreaves Leese, 3rd Baronet, (27 October 1894 – 22 January 1978) was a senior British Army officer who saw distinguished active service during both the world wars. He is probably most notable during the ...

Philip Christison General Sir Alexander Frank Philip Christison, 4th Baronet, (17 November 1893 – 21 December 1993) was a British Army officer who served with distinction during the world wars. After service as a junior officer on the Western Front in the Fir ...

Eric Hayes Major General Eric Charles Hayes, CB (19 June 1896 – 25 August 1951) was a senior British Army officer who served in both of the world wars. Early life and First World War Born the son of Charles Frederick Hayes on 19 June 1896, Eric Hayes w ...

Evelyn Barker General Sir Evelyn Hugh Barker (22 May 1894 – 23 November 1983) was a British Army officer who saw service in both the First World War and the Second World War. During the latter, he commanded the 10th Brigade during the Battle of France in ...

Eric Dorman-Smith Brigadier Eric Edward "Chink" Dorman-Smith (24 July 1895 – 11 May 1969), who later changed his name to Eric Edward Dorman O'Gowan, was an Irish officer whose career in the British Army began in the First World War and closed at the end of the ...

, John Whiteley,

Ronald Penney Major General Sir (William) Ronald (Campbell) Penney KBE CB DSO MC (16 May 1896 – 3 December 1964) was a British Army officer who fought in both World War I and World War II. His most notable role was during World War II when he was Gener ...

, Clement West, Wilfred Lloyd, Stanley Kirby and John Hawkesworth. He was then transferred as a brevet-major to the 7th Infantry Brigade in 1932. Bridgeman held this command until 1934 and became brevet lieutenant-colonel in the following year, having been simultaneously appointed to the

War Office The War Office was a department of the British Government responsible for the administration of the British Army between 1857 and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the new Ministry of Defence (MoD). This article contains text from ...

as a general staff officer.

Second World War

Bridgeman retired on half-pay in 1937, however was reactivated to the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) with the outbreak of the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. He was decorated with the

Distinguished Service Order The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, as well as formerly of other parts of the Commonwealth, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typ ...

(DSO) in July 1940 after the

Dunkirk evacuation The Dunkirk evacuation, codenamed Operation Dynamo and also known as the Miracle of Dunkirk, or just Dunkirk, was the evacuation of more than 338,000 Allied soldiers during the Second World War from the beaches and harbour of Dunkirk, in the ...

and commanded the 145th Infantry Brigade, part of the 48th (South Midland) Infantry Division, a Territorial Army (TA) formation, recently returned from Dunkirk. He became first deputy director, then director-general, of the

Home Guard Home guard is a title given to various military organizations at various times, with the implication of an emergency or reserve force raised for local defense. The term "home guard" was first officially used in the American Civil War, starting w ...

as well as the TA in the next year. In 1942, Bridgeman was promoted to colonel and temporary major-general. He was nominated deputy adjutant-general to the War Office in 1944, a post he held until the end of the war. In 1951, Bridgeman retired, having been granted the rank of honorary major-general.

Later years

Bridgeman was invested as a

Companion of the Order of the Bath Companion may refer to: Relationships Currently * Any of several interpersonal relationships such as friend or acquaintance * A domestic partner, akin to a spouse * Sober companion, an addiction treatment coach * Companion (caregiving), a caregive ...

in the New Year's Honours 1944, and became honorary colonel of the 4th Battalion, King's Shropshire Light Infantry in 1949. Bridgeman served as treasurer of the

Royal Salop Infirmary The Parade Shops, formerly the Royal Salop Infirmary, is a specialist shopping centre at St Mary's Place in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England. It is a Grade II listed building. History The original facility on the site was the Salop Infirmary desig ...

at Shrewsbury in 1946, and 1948 when the hospital was taken over by the

National Health Service The National Health Service (NHS) is the umbrella term for the publicly funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom (UK). Since 1948, they have been funded out of general taxation. There are three systems which are referred to using the " ...

. Having been before already Deputy Lieutenant, he was appointed

Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire This is a list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire. Before the English Civil War, the lieutenancy of Shropshire was always held by the Lord Lieutenant of Wales, but after the Restoration, its lieutenants were appointed sep ...

in 1951. Representing the county also as

Justice of the Peace A justice of the peace (JP) is a judicial officer of a lower or ''puisne'' court, elected or appointed by means of a commission ( letters patent) to keep the peace. In past centuries the term commissioner of the peace was often used with the sa ...

, he held the Lord lieutenancy until 1970. He was awarded a

Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...

in 1954, and was invested a Knight of the

Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem The Order of St John, short for Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem (french: l'ordre très vénérable de l'Hôpital de Saint-Jean de Jérusalem) and also known as St John International, is a British royal order of ...

one year later. Bridgeman was president of the West Midland Territorial Army and Volunteer Reserve Association in 1968 and the next year.

Family

On 12 June 1930, he married Mary Kathleen Lane Fox, second daughter of

George Lane-Fox, 1st Baron Bingley George Richard Lane Fox, 1st Baron Bingley, PC (15 December 1870 – 11 December 1947) was a British Conservative politician. He served as Secretary for Mines between 1922 and 1924, and again between 1924 and 1928. Background and education Lan ...

, and had by her three daughters. He was succeeded in the viscountcy by his nephew Robin Bridgeman, the son of his younger brother Geoffrey. Lady Bridgeman died in 1981. He died on 17 November 1982 aged eighty-six, and was buried in the churchyard at Hope near

Minsterley Minsterley is a village and civil parish in Shropshire, England. In the 2011 census, its population was 1,777. Minsterley lies one mile south-west of Pontesbury and 10 miles south-west of Shrewsbury. East from Minsterley along the A488, is the la ...

, Shropshire. His youngest daughter, Mary Selina Bayliss, went on to serve as both

High Sheriff of Berkshire The High Sheriff of Berkshire, in common with other counties, was originally the King's representative on taxation upholding the law in Saxon times. The word Sheriff evolved from 'shire-reeve'. The title of High Sheriff is therefore much older ...

and

Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire This is a list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire. Since 1689, all Lords Lieutenant have also been Custos Rotulorum of Berkshire. Lord-Lieutenants of Berkshire *Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk 1545–22 August 1545 *E ...

References

Bibliography

* *

External links

*
Generals of World War II
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bridgeman, Robert Bridgeman, 2nd Viscount 1896 births 1982 deaths

Robert The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, honou ...

British Army generals of World War II British Army personnel of World War I Companions of the Distinguished Service Order Companions of the Order of the Bath Graduates of the Staff College, Camberley Lord-Lieutenants of Shropshire Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire Knights of the Order of St John Recipients of the Military Cross Rifle Brigade officers Viscounts in the Peerage of the United Kingdom British Army major generals War Office personnel in World War II Military personnel from London