Bruce John Geoffrey

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Biografie:
John Geoffrey Bruce 1896-1972
Geoffrey Bruce was a member of the AC from 1922 to 1947, but was not, in a technical sense, a mountaineer. A cousin of C. G. Bruce, he had been brought into the 1922 Everest expedition as Transport Officer, as again in 1924. Service in the Indian Army had earlier given him experience of hill scrambling on the North-West Frontier; he was in the 3rd Afghan War of 1919, and on NWFP expeditions between 1920 and 1923 and later 1937-8.
In 1922, shortage of available personnel caused him to become G. I. Finch's companion (along with the Gurkha NCO, Tejbir) on their attempt in May upon the summit of Everest, using oxygen, and reaching 8320 m. It was an extraordinary achievement for a man like Bruce to be making his first serious mountain climb in this fashion, and he and Finch proved to be the first climbers ever to reach over 8200 m. Bruce got his feet frost-bitten, but not too seriously, and he proved his worth once again in 1924, helping to establish Camp V at 7680 m, but straining his heart in helping to carry some ofthe porters' loads.
In the 1930S he was invited to lead one of the Everest expeditions, but declined, and for the rest his life lay with the Indian Army, becoming commander of the 2nd Bn 6th Gurkha Rifles in 1937. A distinguished military career followed during the Second World War, and he ultimately became GOC Lahore District in 1946-7. He retired from the Army in 1948.
T. S. Blakeney
Quelle: Alpine Journal Volume 78, 1973, Seite 283


Geboren am:
1896
Gestorben am:
1972