Evan Bruce-Gardyne

Captain Evan Bruce-Gardyne, DSO, RN, 13th Laird of Midddeton, (21 April 1885 - 24 July 1949) was a British Navy officer. He was a member of the well-known Scottish landowning family of Gardyne who have been based in the county of Angus since 1008 AD. Born on 21 April 1885 he was the son of David Greenhill Bruce-Gardyne and Azemia Sellar.

Family

His father, David Greenhill Bruce-Gardyne was the son of Major William Bruce-Gardyne of Middleton and his wife Catherine Cameron Macpherson daughter of Lt-Col Donald Macpherson of Kingston Canada, illegitimate son ofEwen MacPherson of Cluny chief of the Clan Macpherson. David Greenhill Bruce-Gardyne was a cousin of Sir John Alexander Macdonald, GCB, KCMG, PC, PC (Can) first Prime Minister of Canada, and his wife Azemia Sellar was a granddaughter of the notorious Patrick Sellar.

Bruce-Gardyne's brother Lieutenant Ian Bruce-Gardyne MC was a professional soldier in the Black Watch and won the military Cross during the first world war. He was also Alfred Anderson's commanding officer.

Military career

Bruce-Gardyne was educated at HMS Britannia, from which he joined the Navy. He was gunnery officer of HMS Tiger at the battle of Jutland, where the ship was badly damaged. Some blamed HMS Tiger's performance on Bruce-Gardyne, and he was court martialled but found not guilty. Many believed he was made a scapegoat and that the real problems lay with the British Navy's outdated ships.

Bruce-Gardyne was re-instated and went on to receive the Distinguished Service Order for bravery at the bombardment of Zeebrugge on 11-12 May, 1917, and of Ostend on 4-5 June, 1917. When junior officers were awarded the DSO it was an acknowledgement that the officer had only just missed out on receiving the Victoria Cross.

After the war Bruce-Gardyne became the officer in charge of the Royal Hospital School Holbrook, before retiring to his estate in Scotland. He died on 24 July 1949 at age 64.

Personal life

Bruce-Gardyne married Joan McLaren, daughter of Charles Edward McLaren of Rosehall and Barrister at law , on 10 February 1926. The couple had three sons:

1.Charles Bruce-Gardyne, 14th Laird of Middleton+1 b. 15 Feb 1927.Charles Bruce-Gardyne is a member of the Royal Company of Archers and a member of the Sovereign's Bodyguard in Scotland. He married Dorothy Margaret Blair-Imrie, daughter of Lt.-Col. Hew Angus Christopher Blair-Imrie killed in action, on 16 April 1966l. Charles Bruce-Gardyne's son Hugh is married to Lucinda Bruce-Gardyne

2.John Bruce-Gardyne , Baron Bruce-Gardyne+1 Conservative MP b. 12 Apr 1930. He married Sarah Louisa Mary Maitland daughter of Commander Sir John Maitland (Conservative politician) in 1959. He died of a brain tumour in Kensington and Chelsea at the age of 60.

3.Lt.-Cdr. Kenneth Patrick Bruce-Gardyne+1 of Nettlebed House, Droxford Hampshire b. 13 Nov 1933. He married Angela Pauline Fane, daughter of Charles William Fane and Pauline Margaret Blackie, on 11 April 1964. Charles William Fane was a son of Colonel William Vere Reeve King-Fane of Fulbeck Hall and Pauline Blackie was a daughter of Ernest Morell Blackie Dean of Rochester and Honorary Chaplain to the King