Frederick Bedford

Admiral Sir Frederick George Denham Bedford KCB (1838–30 January 1913 ["Who's Who 1914", p. xxi] ) was Governor of Western Australia from 24 March 1903 to 22 April 1909. His father was a Vice-Admiral. Sir Frederick joined the Royal Navy at the age of 14, and also served in the Crimean War.

In 1894, Admiral Sir Frederick Bedford was involved in an action against Nana Chief of Benin. Brohomi was burnt down in 1894 by a combined force of the British Naval Brigade and the Niger Coast Protectorate Force under Sir Frederick Bedford, KCB and the Consul-General Ralph Moor, KCMG. It is believed over 500-600 slaves were freed during the operation.

On 22 February 1895, a British naval force, under the command of Admiral Sir Frederick Bedford at the behest of the Royal Niger Company, granted a royal charter by Queen Victoria in 1886, laid siege on Brass, the chief city of the Ljo people of Nembe in Nigeria’s Niger Delta.

In 1896 he was a rear admiral and already knighted to KCB and by 1899 he was a Vice-Admiral.

After becoming Governor in 1903, on 4 June 1907 he officiated at the opening of the Royal Fremantle Golf Club in Western Australia, but it was not until March 1909 that the complete 18 hole course was available.

His son became Vice Admiral Sir Arthur Edward Frederick Bedford; KCB, CSI; who married Mrs Gladys Bedford. While residing at Easthampnett, their son Frederick (named for his grandfather) who had become a Lieutenant Fleet Air Arm; a Senior Observer was killed in action over St Pauls Bay, Malta on the 21 February 1942, aged 22 years and is buried in Malta (Capuccini) Naval Cemetery.

Legacy in Western Australia

*A suburb - Bedfordale situated 30km from Perth GPO is named for Governor F.G.D. Bedford and he named several streets for famous Admirals.
*A suburb - Bedford situated 6km from Perth GPO arose during the Western Australia gold-boom of the 1890's, named in honour of Governor F.G.D. Bedford; the area was called "Bedford Park" following subdivision by the International Investment Land and Building Co. Ltd. of Sydney and Gold Estates of Australia (an English company).

Notes