5th Dragoon Guards


Sir George Tom Molesworth Bridges KCB KCMG DSO


At the beginning of World War 1, Major G T M Bridges commanded C Squadron 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards which had the distinction of being the first unit of WW1 to go into action against the Germans, on the Soignes road, on 22nd Aug 1914. Two Troops of the squadron successfully charged the enemy while the others provided dismounted covering fire. During the retreat from Mons, Major Bridges came across two British battalions at St Quentin on 27th Aug who were on the point of surrendering. They were exhausted and their commanding officers had assured the Mayor that they would give themselves up to save the town from bombardment. Bridges himself was wounded, he had concussion and a shattered cheekbone, but he rallied the men with a toy drum and a tin whistle, purchased in a local shop, and led them off to join General French's army. He was employed by French as an intelligence and liaison officer with the Belgian army in Antwerp. By Dec 1915 he was in command of the 19th Division of the New Army and was able to bring them to a high state of efficiency after their trials in the Loos offensive. He was a major-general in July 1916 and was successful in making attacks in the La Boiselle area in the battle of the Somme. However, at the battle of Menin Road ridge on 20th Sep 1917 he was badly wounded and lost a leg.

Having recovered from that he was asked to work, at a high diplomatic level, as a liaison officer with the Americans which resulted in a much faster flow of reinforcememts across the Atlantic. After that he worked with allies in the Balkans, Russia and Asia Minor. He was made CMG in 1915, CB in 1918, KCMG in 1919 and KCB in 1925. These decorations prompted his uncle, Robert Bridges, to compose an ode 'To His Excellency'.

George Tom Molesworth Bridges was born on 20th Aug 1871 in Eltham, Kent the third son of Major Thomas Walker Bridges. He was commissioned into the RA in 1892 and served in India and Nyasaland. He commanded Imperial Horse units in the Boer War and operated in Somaliland between 1902 and 1904. He was wounded several times and was awarded the DSO. In 1907 he married a widow, Janet Florence Marshall and they had one daughter. After WW1 he was appointed Colonel of the 5th Dragoon Guards, their last Colonel before amalgamation. He was joint Colonel with Maj-Gen Sir Michael Rimington until 1937.

In 1922 Lieutenant-General Bridges was appointed Governor of South Australia, encouraged by Winston Churchill who was an admirer of Bridges. He took up office in Adelaide and his style of governorship was staunchly conservative. He had quarrels with the Labour ministers (1924-27) especially premier John Gunn. Nevertheless he was able to indulge his pastimes of sport, painting, natural history, and playing bridge every day. Bridges was offered a second term but turned it down and returned to Britain in 1927. He published his memoirs 'Alarms and Excursions' in 1938 and 'Word from England' in 1940. He lived at 12 Dyke Road, Brighton in retirement and died there on 26th Nov 1939.


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by Stephen Luscombe