Christopher Birdwood, 2nd Baron Birdwood
Encyclopedia
Christopher Bromhead Birdwood, 2nd Baron Birdwood MVO
(22 May 1899 – 5 January 1962) was a British Hereditary peer
, soldier and author.
The son of Field Marshal William Birdwood, 1st Baron Birdwood
and Janetta Hope Gonville Bromhead (daughter of Sir Benjamin Parnell Bromhead, 4th Baronet
, and niece of Gonville Bromhead
VC). He was baptised at Twickenham
, London, England. He married, firstly, Elizabeth Vere Drummond Ogilvie, daughter of Lt.-Col. Sir George Drummond Ogilvie and Lorna Rome, on 7 March 1931 at Delhi
, India. He and Elizabeth Vere Drummond Ogilvie were divorced in 1953. He married, secondly, Joan Pollack Graham, daughter of Christopher Norman Graham, on 22 February 1954.
Lord Birdwood educated at Clifton College
and Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, Berkshire
. He was commissioned into King Edward VII's Own Lancers (Probyn's Horse) of the Indian Army
in 1917. He fought in the First World War, where he was Mentioned in Dispatches
. He was decorated with the Order of Aviz
of Portugal
. In France he was Aide-de-Camp
to the General Officers Commanding the Australian Corps
and 5th Army. He fought in the Waziristan Campaign
between 1919 and 1920. He was promoted Captain in 1921. He was Aide-de-Camp to the Commander-in-Chief at India between 1929 and 1931. He was promoted Major in 1935. He fought in the Waziristan Campaign again between 1937 and 1938. He fought in the Second World War, retiring due to ill-health in June 1945. He was invested as a Member, Royal Victorian Order
(MVO) in 1939. He was later promoted Lieutenant-Colonel in the 5th King Edward's Own Probyn's Horse
.
He succeeded to his father's titles on 17 May 1951.
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
(22 May 1899 – 5 January 1962) was a British Hereditary peer
Hereditary peer
Hereditary peers form part of the Peerage in the United Kingdom. There are over seven hundred peers who hold titles that may be inherited. Formerly, most of them were entitled to sit in the House of Lords, but since the House of Lords Act 1999 only ninety-two are permitted to do so...
, soldier and author.
The son of Field Marshal William Birdwood, 1st Baron Birdwood
William Birdwood, 1st Baron Birdwood
Field Marshal William Riddell Birdwood, 1st Baron Birdwood, GCB, GCSI, GCMG, GCVO, GBE, CIE, DSO was a First World War British general who is best known as the commander of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during the Gallipoli Campaign in 1915.- Youth and early career :Birdwood was born...
and Janetta Hope Gonville Bromhead (daughter of Sir Benjamin Parnell Bromhead, 4th Baronet
Bromhead Baronets
The Bromhead Baronetcy, of Thurlby Hall in the County of Lincoln, is a title in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 19 February 1806 for the soldier Lieutenant-General Gonville Bromhead. His eldest son, the second Baronet, was a mathematician. He died unmarried and was succeeded...
, and niece of Gonville Bromhead
Gonville Bromhead
Major Gonville Bromhead VC was a British Army officer and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
VC). He was baptised at Twickenham
Twickenham
Twickenham is a large suburban town southwest of central London. It is the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and one of the locally important district centres identified in the London Plan...
, London, England. He married, firstly, Elizabeth Vere Drummond Ogilvie, daughter of Lt.-Col. Sir George Drummond Ogilvie and Lorna Rome, on 7 March 1931 at Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
, India. He and Elizabeth Vere Drummond Ogilvie were divorced in 1953. He married, secondly, Joan Pollack Graham, daughter of Christopher Norman Graham, on 22 February 1954.
Lord Birdwood educated at Clifton College
Clifton College
Clifton College is a co-educational independent school in Clifton, Bristol, England, founded in 1862. In its early years it was notable for emphasising science in the curriculum, and for being less concerned with social elitism, e.g. by admitting day-boys on equal terms and providing a dedicated...
and Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
. He was commissioned into King Edward VII's Own Lancers (Probyn's Horse) of the Indian Army
British Indian Army
The British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...
in 1917. He fought in the First World War, where he was Mentioned in Dispatches
Mentioned in Dispatches
A soldier Mentioned in Despatches is one whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which is described the soldier's gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy.In a number of countries, a soldier's name must be mentioned in...
. He was decorated with the Order of Aviz
Order of Aviz
The Military Order of Aviz , previously to 1910 Royal Military Order of Aviz , previously to 1789 Order of Saint Benedict of Aviz , previously Knights of St. Benedict of Aviz or Friars of Santa Maria of Évora, is a Portuguese Order of Chivalry...
of Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
. In France he was Aide-de-Camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to the General Officers Commanding the Australian Corps
Australian Corps
The Australian Corps was a World War I army corps that contained all five Australian infantry divisions serving on the Western Front. It was the largest corps fielded by the British Empire army in France...
and 5th Army. He fought in the Waziristan Campaign
Waziristan campaign 1919–1920
The Waziristan campaign 1919–1920 was a military campaign conducted in Waziristan by British and Indian forces against the fiercely independent tribesmen that inhabited this region...
between 1919 and 1920. He was promoted Captain in 1921. He was Aide-de-Camp to the Commander-in-Chief at India between 1929 and 1931. He was promoted Major in 1935. He fought in the Waziristan Campaign again between 1937 and 1938. He fought in the Second World War, retiring due to ill-health in June 1945. He was invested as a Member, Royal Victorian Order
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
(MVO) in 1939. He was later promoted Lieutenant-Colonel in the 5th King Edward's Own Probyn's Horse
5th King Edward's Own Probyn's Horse
The 5 Horse is an armoured regiment of Pakistan Army. Previously, it was known as the 5th King Edward's Own Probyn's Horse, which was a regular cavalry regiment of the British Indian Army...
.
He succeeded to his father's titles on 17 May 1951.
Works
- Nuri as Said: a study in Arab leadership
- Two Nations and Kashmir
- A History of the Worcestershire Regiment
- A Continent Decides
- A Continent Experiments