Robert Bridgeman, 2nd Viscount Bridgeman
Encyclopedia
Major-General Robert Clive Bridgeman, 2nd Viscount Bridgeman KBE
, CB
, DSO
, MC
, JP
(1 April 1896 – 17 November 1982), styled The Honourable between 1929 and 1935, was a British
peer and soldier.
and baptised at St Paul's Cathedral
, he was the son of William Bridgeman, 1st Viscount Bridgeman and his wife Caroline Beatrix Parker, daughter of Hon. Cecil Thomas Parker. His youngest brother was Maurice Richard Bridgeman. He was educated at Eton College
and in 1935, he succeeded his father as viscount.
in the next year.
After the war, he was private secretary to his father in 1918 and became captain in 1921. He graduated from staff college
in 1928 and was then transferred as 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
as a general staff officer.
with the outburst of the Second World War. He was decorated with the Distinguished Service Order
in 1940 and became first deputy director, then director-general of the British Home Guard
as well as the Territorial Army 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.
in the New Year's Honours 1944, and became honorary colonel of the 4th Battalion, King's Shropshire Light Infantry
in 1949. He was awarded a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
in 1954 and was invested a Knight of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem one year later. Having been before already Deputy Lieutenant
, he was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire
in 1951. Representing the county also Justice of the Peace
, he held the Lord Lieutenantcy until 1970. Bridgeman was president of the West Midland Territorial Army and Volunteer Reserve Association in 1968 and the next year.
, the son of his younger brother Geoffrey.
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...
, 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...
, DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, 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....
, JP
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
(1 April 1896 – 17 November 1982), styled The Honourable between 1929 and 1935, 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 and soldier.
Background
Born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and baptised at St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral, London, is a Church of England cathedral and seat of the Bishop of London. Its dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604. St Paul's sits at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, and is the mother...
, he was the son of William Bridgeman, 1st Viscount Bridgeman and his wife Caroline Beatrix Parker, daughter of Hon. Cecil Thomas Parker. His youngest brother was Maurice Richard Bridgeman. He was educated at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and in 1935, he succeeded his father as viscount.
First World War
Bridgeman became 2nd lieutenant in the Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own) in 1914 and served during the First World War. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1916 and received the Military CrossMilitary 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....
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 graduated from staff college
Staff college
Staff colleges train military officers in the administrative, staff and policy aspects of their profession. It is usual for such training to occur at several levels in a career...
in 1928 and was then transferred as 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
War Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
as a general staff officer.
Second World War
Bridgeman retired on pay in 1937, however was reactivated to the British Expeditionary ForceBritish Expeditionary Force (World War II)
The British Expeditionary Force was the British force in Europe from 1939–1940 during the Second World War. Commanded by General Lord Gort, the BEF constituted one-tenth of the defending Allied force....
with the outburst of the Second World War. He was decorated with the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
in 1940 and became first deputy director, then director-general of the British Home Guard
British Home Guard
The Home Guard was a defence organisation of the British Army during the Second World War...
as well as the Territorial Army 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 Order of the BathOrder 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...
in the New Year's Honours 1944, and became honorary colonel of the 4th Battalion, King's Shropshire Light Infantry
The King's Shropshire Light Infantry
The King's Shropshire Light Infantry was a regiment of the British Army, formed in 1881, but with antecedents dating back to 1755. The KSLI was amalgamated with three other county light infantry regiments in 1968 to became part of The Light Infantry...
in 1949. He was awarded a Knight Commander 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...
in 1954 and was invested a Knight of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem one year later. Having been before already Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
, he was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire
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 separately...
in 1951. Representing the county also Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
, he held the Lord Lieutenantcy until 1970. 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, and had by her three daughters. He was succeeded in the viscountcy by his nephew Robin BridgemanRobin Bridgeman, 3rd Viscount Bridgeman
Robin John Orlando Bridgeman, 3rd Viscount Bridgeman CA is a British peer and politician.The son of Brigadier Geoffrey John Orlando Bridgeman and Mary Meriel Gertrude Talbot, and grandson of the 1st Viscount Bridgeman was educated at Eton College, Berkshire...
, the son of his younger brother Geoffrey.