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 |