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 the 3rd Infantry Division shortly before the outbreak of World War II. 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, England
Died	August 25, 1956(1956-08-25) (aged 73) Galway, Ireland
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service / branch	British Army
Years of service	1902–1941
Rank	Lieutenant General
Service number	6014[3]
Unit	Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own) Royal Ulster Rifles
Commands	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 (The Prince Consort's Own) on 22 October 1902.^[4][5]

Career

Governor and General Officer Commanding, Lieutenant-General Sir Denis Bernard, inspects the First Contingent of the BVRC to the Lincolnshire Regiment at Prospect Camp on 22 June 1940.

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.^[5] 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.^[5] His last appointment was as General Officer Commanding 3rd Division in 1936 before he retired in 1939.^[1][5]

In retirement he became Governor of the Imperial fortress colony of Bermuda and General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Bermuda Garrison.^[5][6] 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^[7] and he resigned at the request of the British Government in 1941 "to make way for a civilian".^[8] Bernard Park in Hamilton, Bermuda is named after him.^[9] His family home was Castle Hacket House in Galway,^[10] where he died in 1956, aged 73.^[1]

References

1. "Obituary: Lt.-Gen. Sir Denis Bernard – Former Governor of Bermuda". The Times. 27 August 1956. p. 12.
2. UK, British Army Lists, 1882–1962
3. "No. 35348". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 November 1941. p. 6621.
4. "No. 27486". The London Gazette. 21 October 1902. p. 6654.
5. Sir Denis John Charles Kirwan Bernard Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives
6. The Saltus Year Book 1942. Pembroke, Bermuda: Saltus Grammar School. 1942. pp. 12, 13. Cadets Promotions C.S.M.— Sgt. Welch, P. S. Sergeants — Cpls. Campbell, D. E., Trimingham, J. B., Spurling P. N., Leseur, H. A. Corporals — L/Cpls. Brown, C. R., Brooks, P. N., Lough, J. I., Darling, P. H., Motyer, A. J. L/Corporals — Cadets King, H., Pantry L., Burland D., Critchley D., Burland J., Moniz S. A., Barnard R. L., Dennett P. Efficiency Badges obtained by L/Cpl. Trimingham, J. B., Watlington, H. P., Cadets Harvey, A., Dennett, P., Pantry, L., Trott, F. N., Moniz, S. A., King, H., Browne, C. R., Burland,J., Motyer, A. J., Petty, G., Tucker, R., Hassell, H., Critchley, D., Darling, P. H., Barnard, R. L., Brooks, P. N., Dickenson, W., McLay, J., Burland, D., Segal D., Parker, W. R. Strength— 85. CAMP. Held at Warwick from July 4–11, 1941. The School was represented by two full platoons, No. 3 (Sgt. Welch) and No. 4 (Sgt. Petty). Both platoons showed keenness in the various activities, No. 3 again winning the Inter-Platoon Cricket cup and No. 4 the Guard mounting competition. His Excellency the Governor paid a visit of inspection and saw an excellent display of Field Work, P.T., and Shooting. In the latter, the falling plate competition was an innovation this year, and aroused keen interest. INSPECTION. B. Company was inspected by the G.S.O. II on Nov. 18th, 1941. Ceremonial was largely dispensed with, and the inspection consisted mainly in viewing the cadets performing normal routine work. FIELD DAYS. A tactical exercise in which the School company operated on the Coral Island golf course against the Whitney company, was held on Dec. 18th, 1941 Saltus was in the attack, and an encircling movement by their right flank almost succeeded in surrounding the main Whitney force in their first defensive position, but they managed to escape by beating a very hasty retreat. The final charge against the Peak was well carried out and enjoyed by all. The full Corps Field Day was held on March 17th, 1942. in the Warwick Camp area. The whole Corps was in the attack against opposition supplied by the Cameron Highlanders. Saltus carried out their operations in a businesslike manner and were especially good in their attack on the final objective. AIR TRAINING. This new section was formed in September, 1941. Its object is to give some preliminary training in aviation to cadets. A series of lectures and classes have been arranged, and text-books and apparatus obtained after some delay. Fifteen cadets from Saltus were selected for the course, and have found it very interesting, especially as some of the lecturers have been experienced airmen from England. SHOOTING. Sgt. Leseur and L/Cpl. Critchley were successful in obtaining their shooting badges in April. Plate-shooting at 200 yards was organised at camp this year, an innovation which caused plenty of excitement. In the final round of the inter-sectional competition, H. E. the Governor, Lt. General Sir D. K. Bernard, offered £1 to the first team to hit all plates. In the final shoot of the meeting. Cadets Barnard and Trimingham fired simultaneously — and each knocked down the fifth and final plate. H. E. then demonstrated his own ability by hitting 3 plates out of 5, in a match between Staff and Cadet Officers. We recommend the use of sandbags in future during initial training, especially when a heavier type of rifle is used.
7. American Military Bases in Bermuda from 1941 to 1995 Archived 9 November 2018 at the Wayback Machine Welcome to Bermuda
8. The New International Year Book 1941
9. Bermuda's Pembroke Parish Welcome to Bermuda
10. Percy John Paley of Castle Hacket in Galway

External links

• Generals of World War II

Military offices
Preceded by Cecil Heywood	GOC 3rd Infantry Division 1936–1939	Succeeded by Bernard Montgomery
Government offices
Preceded by Sir Reginald Hildyard	Governor of Bermuda 1939–1941	Succeeded by Viscount Knollys