Denis Bernard (British Army officer)

Sir Denis Bernard
Born	1882
Died	1956
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1902-1939
Rank	Major-General
Commands held	1st Bn Royal Ulster Rifles 3rd Division
Battles/wars	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 1st Bn 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

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives
2. ^ American Military Bases in Bermuda from 1941 to 1995 Welcome to Bermuda
3. ^ The New International Year Book 1941
4. ^ Bermuda's Pembroke Parish Welcome to Bermuda
5. ^ Percy John Paley of Castle Hacket in Galway

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