Denis Bernard (British Army officer)

Sir Denis Bernard
Born 1882
Died 1956
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Years of service 1902–1941
Rank Lieutenant-General
Commands held 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

Lieutenant General Sir Denis John Charles Kirwan Bernard KCB, CMG, DSO (1882–1956) was a British Army officer who commanded 3rd Infantry Division.

Military career

Born the son of Percy Bernard MP, Hayes was commissioned into the Rifle Brigade in 1902.[1] 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.[1] 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.[1] His last appointment was as General Officer Commanding 3rd Division in 1936 before he retired in 1939.[1]

In retirement he became Governor and Commander-in-Chief Bermuda.[1] 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[2] and he resigned at the request of the British Government in 1941 "to make way for a civilian".[3] Bernard Park in Hamilton, Bermuda is named after him.[4] His family home was Castle Hacket in Galway.[5]

References

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