Reginald Hildyard
General Sir Reginald John Thoroton Hildyard, KCB, CMG, DSO (11 December 1876 – 29 September 1965) was a British Army officer who saw active service in the Second Boer War and the First World War. He was Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Bermuda from 1936 to 1939.
Sir Reginald Hildyard | |
|---|---|
 Major General Reginald Hildyard, May 1930 | |
| Born | 11 December 1876 Frimley, Surrey, England |
| Died | 29 September 1965 (aged 88) East Sussex, England |
| Allegiance |  |
| Service/ |  |
| Years of service | 1896–1939 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands held | 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division Governor & Commander-in-Chief Bermuda |
| Battles/wars | Second Boer War First World War |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George Distinguished Service Order Mentioned in Despatches (7) Order of the White Eagle (Serbia) |
| Relations | Henry Hildyard (father) Thomas Thoroton-Hildyard (grandfather) |
Early life
The third son of General Sir Henry Hildyard, by his marriage to Annette, the daughter of Admiral James Charles Prevost, Hildyard's brothers were Harold Charles Thoroton Hildyard (born 1872) and Gerald Moresby Thoroton Hildyard (1874–1956). He also had one sister, Edith Mary Thoroton Hildyard.[1][2]
Military career
Hildyard was commissioned in 1896. He was promoted captain in 1904, major in 1915, colonel in 1919, major general in 1929, lieutenant general in 1934, and general in 1938.[3]
Hildyard served in South Africa during the Second Boer War of 1899–1902, receiving the Queen's Medal with four clasps and the King's Medal with two clasps; from 1900 to 1903 he was employed with the South African Constabulary and served as Aide-de-camp (ADC) to the lieutenant general commanding in South Africa, from 1904 to 1905, then as ADC to the General Officer Commanding, Africa, from 1905 to 1908. He was a General Staff Officer (3rd grade) at the War Office from 1911 to 1913, then Brigade-Major in the Southern Command, 1913 to 1914, and passed the Staff College. He served in the First World War of 1914–1918, was seven times mentioned in despatches, and was appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order and a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George. He was also appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1928 and appointed to command the 2nd Rhine Brigade later that year.[3] He served as General Officer Commanding the 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division, Territorial Army, from 1930 to 1934,[3] and was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 1936.[3]
From 1936 to 1939, Hildyard was Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Bermuda. He retired the service in 1939.[3]
Family life
On 23 November 1911, Hildyard married Muriel Mary Bonsor (1887–1975), the daughter of Sir Cosmo Bonsor, 1st Baronet, by his second marriage to Mabel Grace Brand.[4]
Hildyard died on 29 September 1965 and at the time of his death was living at South Hartfield House, Coleman's Hatch, Sussex.
References
- Lundy, Darryl. "Sir Henry John Thoroton Hildyard". The Peerage., accessed 8 February 2011
- Marquis of Ruvigny and Raineval, The Plantagenet Roll of the Blood Royal: The Mortimer-Percy (2001 reprint), p. 309
- 'HILDYARD, Gen. Sir Reginald John Thoroton', in Who Was Who (London: A. & C. Black, 1920–2008); online ed. by Oxford University Press, December 2007, accessed 15 February 2011
- Lundy, Darryl. "General Sir Reginald John Thornton Hildyard". The Peerage., accessed 15 February 2011
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir George Jeffreys |
General Officer Commanding the 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division 1930–1934 |
Succeeded by Baptist Crozier |