Henry George Orlando Bridgeman DSO, MC, DL, JP, (15 August 1882 – 19 May 1972),[1] styled The Honourable from 1898, was a British soldier.
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He was the third son of the George Bridgeman, 4th Earl of Bradford and his wife Lady Ida Frances Annabella, second daughter of Richard Lumley, 9th Earl of Scarbrough.[2] His older brother was Orlando Bridgeman, 5th Earl of Bradford.[2] Bridgeman was educated at Harrow School and went then to the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich.[3]
In 1901, Bridgeman was commissioned into the Royal Field Artillery as a second lieutenant[4] and from 1905 served as aide-de-camp to Francis Grenfell, 1st Baron Grenfell, at that time Commander-in-Chief, Ireland.[3] After the latter's resignation in 1908, Bridgeman held the same post to his successor Sir Neville Lyttelton.[3] Several months later, he was attached to India with the Royal Horse Artillery. Promoted to captain, he returned to England with the begin of the First World War in 1914.[3] He received command of a battery and was sent to France.[3] Bridgeman was advanced to major in 1915 and was transferred to the 47th Divisional Artillery.[3] In the following year, he was decorated with the Military Cross[3] and In 1917 with the Distinguished Service Order (DSO).[5] From 1918 Bridgeman commanded a brigade acting as lieutenant-colonel.[6] During the war he was mentioned in despatches five times and after its end was awarded the Order of Danilo of Montenegro.[3] Confirmed in his last rank Bridgeman was set on the reserve list in May 1919[7] and retired finally in 1937, having reached the age limit.[8] He became a Justice of the Peace for Northumberland in 1945 and a Deputy Lieutenant of the same county one year later.[1]
On 30 December 1930, he married Joan, youngest daughter of Hon. Bernard Constable-Maxwell, son of William Constable-Maxwell, 10th Lord Herries of Terregles and had by her four children, two sons and as many daughters.[9] His older son Peter was an officer in the British Army.[1] Bridgeman's wife survived her husband until 1991.[9]