James Gildea
Encyclopedia
Colonel Sir James Gildea GBE
KCVO
CB
(1838–6 November 1920) was a British Army
Militia
officer and philanthropist who founded the Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Families Association.
Gildea was born in Kilmaine
, County Mayo
, Ireland
. His father was the Provost
of Tuam
. He was educated at St Columba's College, Dublin, and Pembroke College, Cambridge
. During the Franco-Prussian War
he worked for the National Society for Aid to the Sick and Wounded in War and he later raised money for the families of those killed in the Zulu War of 1879 and the Second Afghan War of 1880.
In 1885, he founded the Soldiers' and Sailors' Families Association, which became the Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Families Association in 1919, and served as its chairman and treasurer until his death.
From 1890 to 1895 he was organising secretary of Queen Victoria's Jubilee Institute for Nurses. He founded the Royal Homes for Officers' Widows and Daughters at Wimbledon
in 1899 and was also at one time treasurer of the St. John Ambulance Association.
From 1890 to 1898, Gildea commanded the 6th (Militia) Battalion
, Royal Warwickshire Regiment.
He was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath
(CB) in the 1898 New Year Honours and Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
(CVO) soon afterwards. Knighted
in 1902, he was later appointed Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO), and in the 1920 civilian war honours became Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
(GBE).
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
KCVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
CB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(1838–6 November 1920) was a British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
Militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
officer and philanthropist who founded the Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Families Association.
Gildea was born in Kilmaine
Kilmaine
Kilmaine or Kilmain is a barony and village in County Mayo, Ireland.-History:The great cairns and other monuments in the country between Ballinchalla and Cross show it to have been of significance in prehistoric times. Around the time of St. Patrick in the 4th century AD, the tribe known as...
, County Mayo
County Mayo
County Mayo is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. His father was the Provost
Provost (religion)
A provost is a senior official in a number of Christian churches.-Historical Development:The word praepositus was originally applied to any ecclesiastical ruler or dignitary...
of Tuam
Tuam
Tuam is a town in County Galway, Ireland. The name is pronounced choo-um . It is situated west of the midlands of Ireland, and north of Galway city.-History:...
. He was educated at St Columba's College, Dublin, and Pembroke College, Cambridge
Pembroke College, Cambridge
Pembroke College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college has over seven hundred students and fellows, and is the third oldest college of the university. Physically, it is one of the university's larger colleges, with buildings from almost every century since its...
. During the Franco-Prussian War
Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...
he worked for the National Society for Aid to the Sick and Wounded in War and he later raised money for the families of those killed in the Zulu War of 1879 and the Second Afghan War of 1880.
In 1885, he founded the Soldiers' and Sailors' Families Association, which became the Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Families Association in 1919, and served as its chairman and treasurer until his death.
From 1890 to 1895 he was organising secretary of Queen Victoria's Jubilee Institute for Nurses. He founded the Royal Homes for Officers' Widows and Daughters at Wimbledon
Wimbledon, London
Wimbledon is a district in the south west area of London, England, located south of Wandsworth, and east of Kingston upon Thames. It is situated within Greater London. It is home to the Wimbledon Tennis Championships and New Wimbledon Theatre, and contains Wimbledon Common, one of the largest areas...
in 1899 and was also at one time treasurer of the St. John Ambulance Association.
From 1890 to 1898, Gildea commanded the 6th (Militia) Battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
, Royal Warwickshire Regiment.
He was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(CB) in the 1898 New Year Honours and Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
(CVO) soon afterwards. Knighted
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
in 1902, he was later appointed Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO), and in the 1920 civilian war honours became Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(GBE).