Warwick Seymour Bracegirdle DSC (1911 - 1993)

Born 22 Dec 1911 in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Margaret Eve Slingsby (Bethell) Bracegirdle — married 10 Jun 1939 (to 5 Aug 1969) in Greenwich, London, England, United Kingdom

Died 14 Mar 1993 at age 81 in Gislingham, Suffolk, England, United Kingdom

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Charlene Newport [send private message]

Biography

Warwick Bracegirdle DSC is Notable.

Commander Bracegirdle, or ‘Braces’ as he was known, was a legendary gunnery officer and during his service with the Royal Australian Navy was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and Bar and was twice Mentioned in Despatches.

Commander Warwick Seymour Bracegirdle was born on 22nd December 1911 in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. ^[1] He was the son of (later Rear Admiral Sir) Leighton Bracegirdle and Lilian Saunders. With the family moving frequently to follow his father's naval career, Warwick was educated at Melbourne Grammar School (Grimwade House) during 1918-19 and 1923-24, St Peters College, Adelaide during 1919-21 and The Cranbrook School, Sydney during 1921-22. ^[2]

Warwick Bracegirdle DSC is a Military Veteran.
Served in the Royal Australian Navy 1925-1957
retired as a Commander with the DSC & 2 Bars

Warwick entered the Royal Australian Naval College, Jervis Bay, in February 1925 as a Cadet Midshipman, graduating in 1928. He was awarded the King's Gold Medal for exemplary conduct, performance of duty and good influence amongst his peers. He was promoted Midshipman in May 1929 while serving aboard HMAS Australia. He commenced training with the Royal Navy in early 1930, on board HMS Ramillies (Mediterranean Fleet). Promoted Sub Lieutenant in September 1931, he studied at Greenwich Royal Naval College. He joined the destroyer HMAS Stuart in 1933, was promoted Lieutenant in 1934, and gained his watchkeeping certificate. In December 1935 he joined the heavy cruiser HMAS Canberra. He completed the long gunnery course in England during 1937-38, and joined the light cruiser HMS Amphion in preparation for her transfer to the RAN as HMAS Perth. ^[2]

Warwick married Margaret 'Eve' Bethell on 10th June 1939 in the Church of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich. ^[3][4] Together they had three children:

1. Simon Warwick Slingsby (1941-); ^[4][5][6] became a music teacher and had a long term career in the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC).
2. Nicholas (1944-); ^[4][6][7] joined the Royal Navy and reached the rank of Lieutenant Commander, seeing service in the 1982 Falklands War.
3. Phillida Ann (1946-); ^[4][6][8] migrated to Greece and became a professional tour guide.

After the outbreak of war, Perth served in the North Atlantic and Caribbean before returning to Australia in mid-1940. In late 1940 the cruiser deployed to the Mediterranean and was involved in the Battle of Matapan and the evacuation of Commonwealth troops from Greece and Crete in April-May 1941. Warwick was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) for 'whole hearted devotion to duty and high personal courage'. ^[9] He was appointed to HMAS Cerberus in November 1941 and was temporarily officer in charge of the gunnery school. Promoted Lieutenant Commander in December 1942, he joined the heavy cruiser HMAS Shropshire as gunnery officer. During the next two and half years he saw service in the New Guinea and Philippines campaigns. Warwick was awarded a Bar to his DSC and twice Mentioned in Despatches (equivalent to today's Commendation for Gallantry). ^[2]

He returned to the gunnery school in May 1945 and was promoted Commander in June 1947. The family went to England in February 1948 with Warwick completing the Joint Services Staff Course followed by secondment to the British Combined Operations Headquarters and the Operations Division in the Admiralty. On returning to Australia he took command of the destroyer HMAS Bataan in late 1951, and took her to the Korean War in February-August 1952. Upon returning to Australia he took the opportunity to take his two sons to sea in Bataan for exercises off the east coast and in Bass Strait. He relinquished command of Bataan in late 1953 and spent the next year as Director of Training and Staff Requirements, in Navy Office (Melbourne). The family then travelled to England where Warwick took up duties as the RAN liaison officer with the UK Joint Services Staff. His tenure ended in late 1956 and, at age 45 years with no prospect of promotion to Captain, he resigned from the Navy on 14th February 1957. ^[2]

Commander Warwick Seymour Bracegirdle relaxes on the bridge of HMAS Bataan during his inspection of Commonwealth Naval Units in Korean waters.

Warwick Bracegirdle DSC migrated from Australia to England.

The family remained in Britain and Warwick attained employment initially with Morgan Crucibles Company Ltd, London, before joining the National Iranian Oil Company, based in Abadan, as a training specialist. His family did not accompany him to Iran. His and Eve's marriage became strained by living apart, and at Winchester County Court on 5th August 1969, they were granted a divorce. At the Gosport Registration Office, Hampshire, on 20th September 1969, Warwick married German divorcee Pauline 'Polly' Annelies Maria Caspar. ^[10] He worked briefly for Vosper-Thornycroft in the 1970s, before retiring and settling at Lodge Cottage in Gislingham, Suffolk. ^[2]

Aged 81 years, he passed away of myocardial infarction and atherosclerosis on 14th March 1993 at his home in Gislingham. He is buried in St Mary's Churchyard, Gislingham. ^[6] He was survived by his first and second wives, and his three children. The Canberra Times published the following funeral notice on 17th March 1993:

"BRACEGIRDLE, Warwick Seymour, Cdr RAN ret, DSC and 2 bars. - Suddenly at his home in Gislingham, Suffolk, UK, 14 March. Beloved husband of Polly. Son of Rear Admiral Sir Leighton and Lady Bracegirdle. Father with Eve Bracegirdle of Simon, Philada and Lt Cdr Nicolas, RN, Ret, and brother of Brian (Canberra). A Memorial Service will be held at the Naval Chapel, Garden Island on April 14." ^[11]

Sources

1. ↑ "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVZZ-SV5Y : 4 September 2014), Warwick Seymour Bracegirdle, Mar 1993; from "England & Wales Deaths, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Death Registration, Gipping & Hartismere, Suffolk, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4} Royal Australian Navy website; accessed 7 Sep 2022
3. ↑ [Marriage Notice, The Newcastle Sun, Tue 27 Jun 1939, Page 3, digital copy at https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/167364000; accessed 1 Feb 2019]
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3} [The Peerage by Darryl Lundy, http://www.thepeerage.com/p60762.htm#i607613; accessed 1 Feb 2019]; citing BP2003 volume 3, page 4127.
5. ↑ Birth Notice, The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 12 Jun 1941 Page 6, digital copy at https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/17764303; accessed 2 Feb 2019]
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3} Death Notice for Warwick Seymour Bracegirdle, The Canberra Times, Wed 17 Mar 1993, Page 25, digital copy at https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/127202401; accessed 1 Feb 2019]
7. ↑ Birth Notice, The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 26 Jul 1944, Page 14, digital copy at https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/17914879; accessed 2 Feb 2019]
8. ↑ Birth Notice, The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 2 Mar 1946, Page 30, digital copy at https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/27916402; accessed 2 Feb 2019]
9. ↑ Australian Honours: DSC; accessed 7 Sep 2022
10. ↑ UK FreeBMD Marriage Index Sep qtr 1969, vol 6b, page 1119
11. ↑ Canberra Times 17 Mar 1993

See also

• service record at the National Archives of Australia.