James Bruce Jardine

Brigadier General James Bruce Jardine (1870 – 17 March 1955) was a British soldier and diplomat. He earned the rank of Brigadier-General in the service of the 5th Lancers.

Family life
Jardine was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1870 and was educated at Charterhouse School and then the Royal Military College at Sandhurst. Jardine was the grandson of the explorer James Bruce who traced the source of the Nile River; and he was named for that maternal ancestor. In December 1908, he married Agnes Sara Hargreaves Brown. His wife was the daughter of Sir Alexander Brown, 1st Baronet.

Career
Jardine joined the 5th Lancers in 1890 and saw active service in the Second Boer War, including the defence of Ladysmith and the sortie of 7 December 1899. He was appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order in November 1900, for his actions in South Africa.

In 1904, Captain Jardine was sent to Tokyo to learn the Japanese language. He and his superiors were anticipating what would become the Russo-Japanese War. He was posted to the British legation as one of several military attachés, including Captain Sir Alexander Bannerman, 11th Baronet, Captain Berkeley Vincent and Captain Arthur Hart-Synnot.

When the First World War began, Jardine held the rank of Major. He commanded 97th Brigade of 32nd Division during the Battle of the Somme in 1916.

In later life, Jardine was named Deputy Lieutenant (DL) of Roxburghshire, Scotland, and from 1952 an ensign in the Royal Company of Archers.

Honours and awards

 * CMG : Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George - 1917.
 * DSO : Companion of the Distinguished Service Order - 29 November 1900 - for services during the Second Boer War in South Africa.
 * Japanese Order of the Sacred Treasure - 1905.