OBITUARY
MAJOR GENERAL BERNARD GORDON LENNOX, CB MBE 1932-2017
B
ernard Gordon Lennox, who died earlier this year aged 85, was, to many who served or worked
with him, the very embodiment of a Grenadier. He had a formidable and decisive personality; his reputation for upholding and insisting upon the very highest standards for himself and others, ensured that his presence was felt before, during and after any meeting with him. Highly principled, resolute and with
firm views, he commanded the respect of all those he encountered, but it was his understanding, support, concern and care for all, whether family, employees, guardsmen or generals, that earned him the love and affection of many. In fact, anyone who dared approach him for advice found a warm and attentive listener, who offered good advice. Born in London on 19 September
1932, Bernard Gordon Lennox was the eldest son of Lieutenant General Sir George and Lady Gordon Lennox. A Page of Honour to HM King George VI between 1946 and 1949, he studied at Eton, where he shone academically and played cricket for the First XI. He then went to Sandhurst, where he won the Sword of Honour before being commissioned into the Grenadier Guards in 1953. He was first posted to Berlin with the
1st Battalion, then moved to Egypt as Assistant Adjutant of the 2nd Battalion, before being appointed Adjutant of the 1st Battalion. It was here that his formidable reputation for high standards
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became established. A keen eye for detail ensured that any lowering of standards through laziness, lack of effort or inefficiency was rewarded with extra duties or time in the guard room. In 1965, when deployed on a six-
month operational peace keeping tour in Cyprus with the United Nations, Gordon Lennox played cricket and polo. On one occasion, while playing polo, he was told that a murder had been committed nearby. He galloped off to investigate wearing his United Nations blue cravat and carrying his polo stick. The startled villagers had never seen anything like it. As Commanding Officer 1st
Battalion, Gordon Lennox was deployed to Londonderry on a four- month emergency tour from March to July 1974. He set about this task with his customary energy and tough, uncompromising approach. His priorities were first to dominate the Creggan and neutralise the gunmen, and secondly to build up the intelligence picture. It was a successful tour and Londonderry was a safer place as a result, with Gordon Lennox Mentioned in Despatches. On leaving, as was the custom, he
sent a valedictory signal to Brigade HQ to which the Brigadier replied personally with words to the effect “Thank you for your signal; on the contrary may I say how much I have enjoyed serving under your command”. By now a Major General, he was asked
to be Chairman of the Guards Polo Club at that crucial point when the Club was making the transition from a military to a civilian club. He was our accomplished and respected Chairman from 1992 to 1999. These were testing times with old military traditions having to meld with the pressures of the modern commercial, sponsor-driven world. He did it with aplomb, toughness and diplomacy, although many suspected he would have loved to have been able to treat some of the members and patrons as he had dealt with his young officers all those years ago. With his sense of having all things in good order he liked to have the horseboxes lined-up – tallest on the right, shortest on the left, which was an anathema to the regular box drivers! Bernard Gordon Lennox married
Sally-Rose Warner in 1958 and she was a wonderful support throughout his life. They had three sons: Edward, who followed him into the Grenadiers and having also won the Sword of Honour at Sandhurst is now a leadership consultant, Angus, also a Grenadier, who later became an investment banker and now runs Gordon Castle, the family estate and Charlie, who founded the Keyholding Company in London. His wife and sons all survive him. A memorial service, which was
attended by key members of Guards Polo Club’s Board of Directors, was held in March.
Lt Col Howard Flood GUARDS POLO CLUB OFFICIAL YEARBOOK 2018
Photo: Hugo Burnand
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