Bertram Gurdon, 2nd Baron Cranworth
Encyclopedia
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
and was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge
. In 1900, he joined the Norfolk Artillery as a Second Lieutenant
and promoted as a Lieutenant
whilst fighting in the Second Boer War
. He inherited his father's title in 1902 and later became a Captain
.
On 18 July 1903, he married Vera Ridley (a cousin of Matthew Ridley, 1st Viscount Ridley
). 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
. Lord Cranworth died in 1964 and his title passed to his grandson, Philip (his only son having been killed in action
in Libya
in 1942).
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
, MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(13 June 1877 – 4 January 1964) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
peer
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
and soldier.
Gurdon was the eldest son of Robert Gurdon, 1st Baron Cranworth
Robert Gurdon, 1st Baron Cranworth
Robert Thornhagh Gurdon, 1st Baron Cranworth was a British Member of Parliament.Cranworth was the eldest son of Brampton Gurdon of Letton Hall in Norfolk and of Grundisbugh Hall in Suffolk. He was elected to the House of Commons for South Norfolk as a Liberal in 1880, a seat he held until 1885,...
and was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
. In 1900, he joined the Norfolk Artillery as a Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
and promoted as a Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
whilst fighting in the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
. He inherited his father's title in 1902 and later became a Captain
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
.
On 18 July 1903, he married Vera Ridley (a cousin of Matthew Ridley, 1st Viscount Ridley
Matthew Ridley, 1st Viscount Ridley
Matthew White Ridley, 1st Viscount Ridley PC, DL , known as Sir Matthew White Ridley, Bt from 1877 to 1900, was a British Conservative politician and statesman...
). 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
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
. Lord Cranworth died in 1964 and his title passed to his grandson, Philip (his only son having been killed in action
Killed in action
Killed in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to...
in Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
in 1942).