1955 - Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel Bertie Charles Gardner, MC (1948-1955) - Past President and CEO of Bank of Montreal / Chancellor of McGill University

Photograph

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Musée Canadian Grenadier Guards Museum

Name/Title

1955 - Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel Bertie Charles Gardner, MC (1948-1955) - Past President and CEO of Bank of Montreal / Chancellor of McGill University

Description

Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel Bertie Charles Gardner, MC (1948-1955) - Past President and CEO of Bank of Montreal / Chancellor of McGill University and Lieutenant Colonel of CGG from May 19 1948 to May 18 1955. About the Officer: Hon. LCol Bertie Charles Gardner, MC Born in Bristol, the son of Frank Smith Gardner, and Susannah Gardner, Gardner moved to Canada to join the Bank of Montreal in 1906. In 1915 he was commissioned into the 79th Cameron Highlanders of Canada as an officer. He was enlisted as a Lieutenant, having already served two years with the Dorset Territorial Regiment. During the battle of Flers-Courcelette, On 20 September, Gardner was wounded in the shoulder from a gunshot wound. he recovered and was transferred to the 14th reserve Battalion until fully healed. On 30 August 1917, a German night raid on British lines south-east of Lens was repulsed, where Gardner was wounded again. Shell fragmentation hit him in the left buttock, left foot and the right calf. His second toe was amputated as a result and a piece of his metatarsal was surgically removed. In 1917 he was awarded the Military Cross "for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during an attack upon enemy trenches. By his bold and determined personal reconnaissance, carried out under fire and frequently in the open, he kept in touch with the division on his left, thereby very largely contributing to the success of the whole operation. He then led his company into the captured trenches, and by force of example carried out the consolidation under heavy fire of all descriptions. He afterwards showed great energy and sound judgement in directing the operation of the offensive patrols, which were sent out to establish our outpost line." In 1948, Hon. Lt.-Col. Gardner became the President of the Bank of Montreal. He was appointed Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of The Canadian Grenadier Guards (May 1949 - May 1955) and served as Chancellor of McGill University between 1952 and 1957

Created By

Bertille L. Hurel

Create Date

December 30, 2022

Updated By

Lieutenant Michael Hayes-Rivet, retired.

Update Date

October 30, 2024