Denis Bernard (British Army officer)
Lieutenant General Sir Denis John Charles Kirwan Bernard, KCB, CMG, DSO (22 October 1882 – 25 August 1956) was a British Army officer who commanded 3rd Infantry Division. He was also Governor of Bermuda and General Officer Commanding the Bermuda Garrison.[1]
Sir Denis Bernard | |
|---|---|
| Born | 22 October 1882[1][2] St George Hanover Square, London |
| Died | August 25, 1956 (aged 73) Galway, Ireland |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |  British Army |
| Years of service | 1902–1941 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Commands held | 3rd Division 1st Battalion, Royal Ulster Rifles |
| Battles/wars | World War I World War II |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George Distinguished Service Order |
Early life and education
Bernard was born in London, the son of Percy Bernard MP. He was educated at Eton College and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, and commissioned into the British Army as a second lieutenant in the Rifle Brigade on 22 October 1902.[3][4]
Career
He fought in World War I as a River Transport Officer with the British Expeditionary Force and then served in France, Gallipoli, Salonika and Egypt.[4] He was appointed Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion, Royal Ulster Rifles in 1927, Brigadier-General of the General Staff at Northern Command in India in 1930 and Director of Recruiting and Organisation at the War Office in 1934.[4] His last appointment was as General Officer Commanding 3rd Division in 1936 before he retired in 1939.[1][4]
In retirement he became Governor and Commander-in-Chief Bermuda.[4] While serving as Governor he had to consider proposals for American military bases there: these proposals were bitterly opposed by the local people at the time despite the war-time needs of the American military[5] and he resigned at the request of the British Government in 1941 "to make way for a civilian".[6] Bernard Park in Hamilton, Bermuda is named after him.[7] His family home was Castle Hacket House in Galway,[8] where he died in 1956, aged 73.[1]
References
- "Obituary: Lt.-Gen. Sir Denis Bernard – Former Governor of Bermuda". The Times. The Times Digital Archive. 27 August 1956. p. 12.
- UK, British Army Lists, 1882–1962
- "No. 27486". The London Gazette. 21 October 1902. p. 6654.
- Sir Denis John Charles Kirwan Bernard Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives
- American Military Bases in Bermuda from 1941 to 1995 Welcome to Bermuda
- The New International Year Book 1941
- Bermuda's Pembroke Parish Welcome to Bermuda
- Percy John Paley of Castle Hacket in Galway
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Cecil Heywood |
General Officer Commanding the 3rd Division 1936–1939 |
Succeeded by Bernard Montgomery |
| Government offices | ||
| Preceded by Sir Reginald Hildyard |
Governor of Bermuda 1939–1941 |
Succeeded by Viscount Knollys |