Henry Campbell Bruce, 2nd Baron Aberdare, VD, DL, JP (19 June 1851 – 20 February 1929), styled The Honourable from 1873 to 1895, was a British soldier and peer.
His military career, by virtue of his status in the nobility, was started early: he served in the Welch Regiment and became a major of the 3rd Battalion in 1899. A year later he was appointed its honorary lieutenant-colonel and in 1910 honorary colonel of the 5th Battalion. Later Bruce was promoted to lieutenant colonel of the 3rd Battalion. He was decorated with the Volunteer Decoration.
He was a member of the London Survey Committee, a voluntary organisation publishing architectural surveys of the capital.[4]
Family
Coats of arms of the Barons AberdareHenry Campbell Bruce's memorial at Aberffrwd cemetery in Mountain Ash, Wales
Bruce married Constance Mary, daughter of Hamilton Beckett on 10 February 1880. The couple had nine children together, five sons and four daughters.[5][2]
Capt. Hon. Henry Lyndhurst Bruce (25 May 1881 – 14 December 1914), married in 1906 Camille Clifford, a Belgian-born stage actress and the most famous model for the "Gibson Girl" illustrations; killed in action in Ypres with the Royal Scots in First World War
Hon. Victor Austin Bruce (8 April 1897 – 1 December 1978), married in 1926 Mildred Mary Petre, known as Mrs Victor Bruce (10 November 1895 – 21 May 1990) record-breaking racing motorist, speedboat racer and aviator (divorced 1941).[6]
Hon. Robert Bruce (1 October 1898 – 22 October 1898), died shortly after birth
His oldest son and heir apparent Henry was commissioned a captain in the 3rd Battalion, Royal Scots, but was killed in action soon after the First World War broke out.[7] Bruce died himself in St George Hanover Square,[8] London, on 20 February 1929[9][10] and was succeeded in the barony by his second son Clarence.
His granddaughter Pamela Digby became American Ambassador to France.
