Geoffrey Bruce

Major-general Geoffrey Bruce was a cousin of Charles Granville Bruce, leader of the 1922 Everest expedition that won the Olympic Alpinism gold medal in 1924. Like his uncle, Geoffrey also had a distinguished Army career in India, and was Deputy Chief of General Staff, India, 1944-46 and later the General Officer Commanding, Lahore district.

Although not a trained climber, Bruce went on the 1922 expedition as a transport officer. Both Bruce and the Australian George Finch, however, managed to get to within half a mile of the summit until a severe storm saw them abandon their attempt and drop to a lower altitude, suffering from frost bite.

Educated at Rugby School before being commissioned into the Glamorgan Yeomanry in 1914, during World War I Bruce saw service in Egypt and Palestine and took part in the third Afghan War of 1919. He later commanded the 6th Gurkhas, and in the early part of World War II was Brigadier General Staff in France and Norway, and was Deputy Director of Military Operations, India 1940-41. He led the British Military Mission to China in 1942. Bruce was awarded the Military Cross in 1923 and Distinguished Service Order (DSO) in 1936.