Bruce, George James
Distinguished Service Order
Military Cross and Bar
Mentioned in Despatches (3 times)
Captain, ‘B’ Company, 13th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles
Brigade Major, 109th Infantry Brigade, 36th Ulster Division
Killed in action on Wednesday 2 October 1918 (aged 38)
Buried:
Dadizeele New British Cemetery, Belgium (Grave III. E. 14)
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Winchester College
Comber and District War Memorial
Comber Parish Church of Ireland Church (St Mary’s)
North of Ireland Cricket Club Memorial Plaque
Royal County Down Golf Club, Newcastle, Co. Down
Comber Masonic Lodge No. 46
Ark Masonic Lodge X, Belfast
Banner of Comber Ulster Defenders LOL No. 100
(along with Second Lieutenant Edmund De Wind VC
and Second Lieutenant Thomas McRoberts)
The Ulster Club, previously situated at 23 Castle Place, Belfast
BIOGRAPHY
George James Bruce was born on 3 July 1880 in Blarney Castle, Co Cork and he was a son of Samuel Bruce JP and Louisa Mary Julia Bruce (nee Colthurst, born in France) of Springfort, Mallow, Co Cork and Norton Hall, Campden, Gloucestershire. They were married on 17 June 1878 in the Church of England Church in the Parish of St George Hanover, Middlesex. Samuel Bruce, a gentleman from Comber, Co Down, was a son of Samuel Bruce, a gentleman, deceased. Louisa Mary Julia Colthurst of 18 Eaton Square, London was a daughter of George Vesey Conway Colthurst, a baronet. They had seven children:
Unnamed female (Maye Emily, born 3 May 1879 at 14 Merrion Square South, Dublin)
George James (born 3 July 1880 in Blarney Castle, Co Cork)
Robert William Vesey (born 23 January 1882 in London; served in the Great War with the 17th Lancers; died in Alton, Hampshire in May 1934)
Annette Edith (twin, born 13 January 1884 in Bryanston Square, London)
Nora Alice (twin, born 13 January 1884 in Bryanston Square, London)
Patrick Alexander (born 4 July 1888, baptised 31 July 1888 in Weston-sub-Edge Church of England Church, Gloucestershire)
Joanetta Marjorie (born 3 January 1893, baptised 11 April 1893 in Weston-sub-Edge Church of England Church, Gloucestershire)
George James Bruce attended Fonthill School, Winchester College and New College, Oxford. In 1903 he was awarded a degree in Natural Science.
George James Bruce became Managing Director of the Comber Distilleries Company.
George James Bruce and Hilda Blakiston-Houston (daughter of John Blakiston-Houston JP DL) were married on 25 September 1907 in Knockbreda Parish Church of Ireland Church Newtownbreda. Hilda Blakiston-Houston (aged 24) from Orangefield, Co Down was a daughter of John Blakiston-Houston DL.
George and Hilda Bruce (nee Blakiston-Houston) had four children:
Michael Robert (born 27 September 1909 in Carnesure, Comber)
Mary Annie (born 5 March 1911 in Orangefield, Belfast)
Norah Isabel (born 27 November 1914 in Cuan, Carnesure, Comber)
William George (born 18 June 1916 in Cuan, Comber; studied at Oxford; died in an aircraft accident with others injured on 17 May 1937 when piloting an Oxford University Air Squadron aeroplane on their way to Buckfastleigh races)
In 1911 the Bruce family lived in the townland of Multyhogy, Pottinger, Belfast with Hilda’s widowed father John, her unmarried sister Annie Marion and their nine servants – a butler, two footmen, a page, a cook, a lady’s maid, a housemaid and two kitchen maids.
George James Bruce was a renowned sportsman and was reported in the Press to be ‘equally expert’ in cricket, golf, billiards and shooting.
In August 1914 George James Bruce volunteered for service and was ‘B’ Company Commander in the 13th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles. He went to France in October 1915.
In January 1916 he was promoted to be General Staff Officer and was attached to the 16th (Irish) Division.
In July 1916 he was Mentioned in Despatches.
In June 1917 he was awarded the Military Cross (and a bar in November 1917 after the Battle of Cambrai).
During the Battle of Langemarck in August 1917 he was awarded a 16th (Irish) Division Gallantry Certificate.
He returned to 109th Brigade of the 36th (Ulster) Division and in March 1918 was awarded the Distinguished Service Order.
On 2 October 1918 Captain George James Bruce was killed in action at Molenhoek. Afterwards his widow Hilda moved to Corriewood, Castlewellan, Co Down and she died on 4 November 1936.
Captain George James Bruce was 38 when he died, and he was buried in Dadizeele New British Cemetery, Belgium. There is an inscription on his CWGC headstone:
ULSTER DIVISION
Captain George James Bruce is commemorated in Winchester College; on Comber and District War Memorial; in Comber Parish Church of Ireland Church (St Mary’s); on the North of Ireland Cricket Club Memorial Plaque; in Comber Masonic Lodge No. 46 and on the Banner of Comber Ulster Defenders LOL No. 100 (along with Second Lieutenant Edmund De Wind VC and Second Lieutenant Thomas McRoberts).
The North of Ireland Cricket Club Memorial Plaque includes those members of the Club who played Rugby Football. The North of Ireland Football Club (members played Rugby Football as opposed to Soccer) was founded by members of the North of Ireland Cricket Club and the North of Ireland Cricket Club Memorial Plaque commemorates members of both Clubs. Members of the Football Club were also members of the Cricket Club but not all members of the Cricket Club were members of the Football Club.
The Ulster Club, previously situated at 23 Castle Place, Belfast was established in 1856 by a group of gentlemen landowners. The Club sold its premises in the late 1960s, moved to River House, High Street, and merged with the Ulster Reform Club in 1982.
The Ulster Reform Club, a private member’s club situated at 4 Royal Avenue, Belfast opened its doors on 1 January 1885 as a business, social, and dining club.
Samuel Bruce died on 1 September 1922 (aged 85) leaving an estate worth more than £236,000 (worth more than £18 million in 2026).
Louisa Mary Julia Bruce (nee Colthurst) died in 1953