James Andrew Thomas Bruce

Admiral Sir James Andrew Thomas Bruce, KCMG (15 July 1846 – 25 May 1921) was an officer in the Royal Navy, who was second in command of the British fleet on the China Station during the Boxer Rebellion.

Background Bruce was born on 15 July 1846, the son of Rt. Hon. Sir Sir Henry Hervey Bruce, 3rd Baronet and Marianne Margaret Clifton.

Naval career He served in the Niger Campaign in 1871.

The British fleet during the Boxer rebellion The British fleet on the China Station in March 1901 was commanded by Vice-Admiral Sir Edward H. Seymour, G.C.B. in the Centurion, with Rear-Admiral Sir James A.T. Bruce, K.C.M.G. second in command, and consisted of: Battleships: Barfleur, Centurion, Glory, Goliath, Ocean. 1st Class cruisers: Argonaut, Aurora, Blenheim, Endymion, Orlando , Terrible, Undaunted **. 2nd Class cruisers: Arethusa ‡, Astraea ‡, Bonaventure, Dido ‡, Hermione, lsis ‡, Pique. 3rd Class cruisers: Alacrity, Wallaroo ‡. Destroyers: Fame, Hart, Otter, Whiting. Sloops: Algerine, Daphne, Phoenix, Rosario. Gunvessel: Linnet. Gunboats: Bramble, Brisk, Britomart, Esk , Lizard ‡, Pigmy, Plover, Redpole. Storeship: Humber. Receiving ship Hong Kong: Tamar (flagship of the Commodore in charge at Hong Kong, Commodore Francis Powell, C.B) and arriving at Plymouth on 31 December 1901. She paid off at Devonport on 22 January 1902, and Sir James Bruce was received in audience by King Edward VII a week later.

Later life

He died aged 74, on 25 May 1921.

Family He married Catherine Mary Philippa Wodehouse, daughter of Colonel Edwin Wodehouse and Catherine Street, on 27 June 1877. There were no children from this marriage. He had an illegitimate daughter, Olive Christian, by Susan Christian in 1874. Olive Christian married Algernon Samuel Wigmore of Cobham and Stoke D'Abernon, Surrey, in 1898. She died, aged 52, on 21 November 1926. Olive Christian Wigmore is interred in the Churchyard of Stoke D'Abernon.