Vivian Bernard

Admiral Vivian Henry Gerald Bernard (30 August 1868 – 18 February 1934) was a senior British Royal Navy officer.

Early life Bernard was born 30 August 1868, Simon's Town, Cape of Good Hope, British Cape Colony, to Inspector-General John Bernard of the Royal Navy. He was educated at Stubbington House School, boys' preparatory school.

Military career Bernard joined the Royal Navy on 15 July 1882 as a naval cadet. He became a midshipman on 15 January 1884. He qualified as a gunnery lieutenant in 1893, having attended training at . He then served in the Department of Naval Intelligence, Admiralty. and given command of , a Topaze-class cruiser. In August 1907, he took command of , a Diadem-class cruiser. A year later, in August 1908, took command of ,(later renamed HMS Redoutable), a Royal Sovereign-class battleship - He commanded the Gunnery School at HMNB Devonport between 1910 and 1912. He was relieved of his command of HMS Neptune in October 1917.

On 15 November 1922, he was promoted to vice-admiral and placed on the retired list the following day. On 1 August 1927, he was promoted to admiral.

Later life Having lived in Australia for two years, Bernard died on 18 February 1934 in Rose Bay, New South Wales. His funeral took place on 19 February at St Mark's Anglican Church in Darling Point, New South Wales. Following the service, he was cremated at the Rookwood Crematorium.

Personal life Bernard was married twice. In 1900, he married Ida Marie Gilles in Woollahra, New South Wales. Together they had one child, a son. She died in 1925. In 1926, he married Eileen Mary Churchill (née Power), widow of Major W. M. Churchill, Indian Army.

He was a devout Anglican and regular church goer. He was further mentioned in dispatches for 'service in the Battle of Jutland'.

It was gazetted in August 1916, that he had been appointed Commander of the Order of the Crown of Italy by the King of Italy 'in recognition of valuable services rendered'. It was gazetted in September 1916, that he had been appointed Officer of the Legion of Honour by the President of the Republic of France 'in recognition of [his] services during the war'. In the 1918 New Year Honours, he was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB). It was gazetted in August 1919, that he had been appointed to the second class of the Order of the Sacred Treasure by the Emperor of Japan 'for distinguished services rendered during the war'.

He was appointed Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the King on 3 July 1917.