Colonel John Banks Brady, DSO, OBE, ED
He was born in Ennistymon, Co. Clare. He was the son of John Henry Banks, the manager of the National Bank, Ennistymon, and Isabella Banks. They were Church of Ireland.
John Banks Brady, 77, c/o The Bulawayo Club, died at Bulawayo General Hospital from Cardiac Syncope and Lobar Pneumonia. He was born in Ireland. He was single and retired.Intended place of burial: Bulawayo Cemetery.
Colonel John Banks Brady, DSO, OBE, ED
Born in Co. Clare, Ireland in November 1875, Brady began his military career shortly after leaving Dublin University when, with the outbreak of the South African War in 1899, he enlisted with the 45th "Irish Hunt" Company, 13th Battalion, The Imperial Yeomanry.
Arriving in South Africa in 1900, he was subsequently commissioned in the Commander-in-Chief's Bodyguard and Kitchener's Fighting Scouts. After the war, Brady decided to remain in South Africa to pursue his chosen profession in education, serving as Headmaster of Grey College in Bloemfontein, before becoming a schools inspector. In 1909, he took up the post of Senior Inspector of Schools in Southern Rhodesia, from where he joined the hundreds of Rhodesian volunteers heading for Britain to enlist at the start of World War I in 1914.
Commissioned on the Special List as a Lieutenant, he had the distinction of being the first commander of the Rhodesian Platoon of the KRRC, thus starting the long association of Southern Rhodesia with this famous British Regiment. After a period as a Company Commander with the 2nd Battalion KRRC, Brady was appointed as a General Staff Officer with the 4th Corps and then Brigade Major to the 148th Irish Brigade, before returning to regimental duty in 1917, becoming Second-in-Command of the 2nd Battalion KRRC. Brady commanded the 4th Battalion in the last four months of the war, then serving with the Army of Occupation on the Rhine, where he also commanded a battalion.
Wounded twice, Brady was appointed a companion of the Distinguished Service Order, the Croix de Guerre, and Mentioned in Despatches four times.
Returning to Southern Rhodesia in 1920, he continued to serve both with the Reserve of Officers of the Regular Army, and as the District Commander of the Southern Rhodesia Territorial Force. Upon his retirement in 1937, Brady was promoted to Colonel. He then entered into politics, successfully taking the Bulawayo North seat.
With the outbreak of World War II, Brady again put on his uniform, this time as Military Observer and Liaison Officer for Southern Rhodesia to the Middle East Campaign. However, ill-health forced him to return home, his service being recognised in June 1943 by the award of the OBE.
Colonel John Banks Brady DSO, OBE, ED, died at the age of 77 years
Lt Col J B Brady was Headmaster of Milton College, Bulawayo from 1925-1930
COLONEL J.B. BRADY (1925-1930)
'Bimbo' Brady certainly had the most varied career of all Milton's headmasters: he came to Africa as a soldier and served throughout the Boer War, remaining in the country to become Headmaster of Grey College, Bloemfontein at the remarkably early age of 27. Two years later he became an Inspector of Schools in the Orange Free State and came to Rhodesia in 1909 as a result of General Hertzog's pro Afrikaner policies. He became Inspector of Schools in Rhodesia and, on the advent of war, joined the forces in France. Four years later he was in command of the Fourth Battalion of the King's Royal Rifles, had been wounded twice, mentioned in dispatches four times and received both the D.S.O. and Croix de Guerre. He returned to Rhodesia in 1920 as Senior Inspector of Schools and succeeded Mr. de Beer in 1925. After his retirement from Milton he became Member of Parliament for Bulawayo North and in 1939 was back in the army as liaison officer with the Rhodesian forces in West Africa, subsequently Egypt. He was invalided out of the army in 1942 but his services were recognised with the award of the O.B.E. He died on 13 February 1952 at the age of 76 and, at his semi-military funeral, the Headmaster and Head Boy of Milton were two of the pall-bearers.
John Banks Brady was born in Ireland in November 1875 and was educated at Middleton College and Trinity College, Dublin. On the outbreak of hostilities in South Africa, he volunteered for the elite 45th ("Irish Hunt") Company, 13th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry, was subsequently commissioned into the Commander-in-Chief's Bodyguard, and served in Kitchener's Fighting Scouts.
Remaining in South Africa at the end of the Anglo-Boer War, Brady made rapid progress in his chosen profession in education, becoming Headmaster of Grey College, Bloemfontein in the Orange River Colony and, in 1909, Chief Inspector of Schools in Southern Rhodesia. He also found time to establish himself as an enthusiastic member of the Rhodesian Volunteers, and on learning of the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, immediately sailed for the U.K.
Rapidly commissioned as a Lieutenant on the Special List, and appointed a Captain just as quickly in the 6th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps, Brady was eventually given command of No. 16 Platoon, 'D' Company of the 3rd Battalion - otherwise known as the "Rhodesian Platoon" - and landed with it in France in December 1914. In the following year he won the first of four "mentions", transferred to the 2nd Battalion and was gassed that September at Loos. He was again mentioned in despatches and detached to a Brigade H.Q.
In 1917, however, he returned to frontline duties, won a D.S.O., the French Croix de Guerre and a further "mention", and joined the 1st Battalion that September. Less than a month later he was appointed the Battalion's 2nd in command and, in January 1918, held overall command in the rank of Temporary Major. But in the following March he was wounded in the action at Le Sars, and evacuated to the U.K.
Yet again, however, in July 1918, Brady returned to France, where he rejoined the 1st Battalion prior to taking command of the 4th Battalion as a Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel towards the end of the year. During this latter tenure of command, he regularly led reconnaissance missions to ensure the best possible outcome for his men, not least at the River Escaut, between Marquincourt Farm and Quincamp Mill, in early October 1918, and again at the crossing of the River Selle later that month. He was again mentioned in despatches.
On resigning in March 1920, in the honorary rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, Brady returned to Rhodesia to pursue his career in education, firstly as Senior Inspector of Schools, and afterwards as Headmaster of Milton School at Bulawayo, one of the largest seats of learning in the country. He also maintained his links with the military establishment, commanding the Bulawayo Military District when the defence system was re-organised, and sitting on the Southern Rhodesia Council for Defence. In addition, he was largely responsible for fostering the alliance between the K.R.R.C. and Royal Rhodesia Regiment.
In 1930 Brady retired from education and entered politics, being elected an M.P. for Bulawayo East, a seat which he held until 1946, but it was for the motion he put before the House on 24 August 1939, that he will best be remembered:
'That the Acting Prime Minister request H.E. the Governor to convey to H.M. The King the heartfelt expression of the Honourable Members of this House their humble duty and service to his Throne and person and the pledge of unfaltering service of the citizens of Southern Rhodesia to the Motherland in this hour of grave national emergency.'
The motion was carried unopposed, and Brady immediately returned to uniform as a Military Observer and Southern Rhodesia Liaison Officer to Middle East Command. One of his first tasks was to tour the West Coast of Africa, where many Rhodesians were at that time serving in readiness for deployment in the East Africa campaign, and he did good service up until being compelled to return to Rhodesia as a result of ill-health. He was awarded the O.B.E.
Brady died at the age of 77 years, his obituary in the King's Royal Rifle Corps Chronicle, noting that 'In his youth he was a fine athlete, particularly on the track, and to the last retained the long, raking stride of the quarter-miler and half-miler.'
His diaries are held by the national Archives of Zimbabwe in Harare, and extracts from them have been published in Ragtime Soldiers, by Peter McLaughlin. 'Brady Barracks' in Bulawayo still bears his name.
He was born in Ennistymon, Co. Clare. He was the son of John Henry Banks, the manager of the National Bank, Ennistymon, and Isabella Banks. They were Church of Ireland.
John Banks Brady, 77, c/o The Bulawayo Club, died at Bulawayo General Hospital from Cardiac Syncope and Lobar Pneumonia. He was born in Ireland. He was single and retired.Intended place of burial: Bulawayo Cemetery.
Colonel John Banks Brady, DSO, OBE, ED
Born in Co. Clare, Ireland in November 1875, Brady began his military career shortly after leaving Dublin University when, with the outbreak of the South African War in 1899, he enlisted with the 45th "Irish Hunt" Company, 13th Battalion, The Imperial Yeomanry.
Arriving in South Africa in 1900, he was subsequently commissioned in the Commander-in-Chief's Bodyguard and Kitchener's Fighting Scouts. After the war, Brady decided to remain in South Africa to pursue his chosen profession in education, serving as Headmaster of Grey College in Bloemfontein, before becoming a schools inspector. In 1909, he took up the post of Senior Inspector of Schools in Southern Rhodesia, from where he joined the hundreds of Rhodesian volunteers heading for Britain to enlist at the start of World War I in 1914.
Commissioned on the Special List as a Lieutenant, he had the distinction of being the first commander of the Rhodesian Platoon of the KRRC, thus starting the long association of Southern Rhodesia with this famous British Regiment. After a period as a Company Commander with the 2nd Battalion KRRC, Brady was appointed as a General Staff Officer with the 4th Corps and then Brigade Major to the 148th Irish Brigade, before returning to regimental duty in 1917, becoming Second-in-Command of the 2nd Battalion KRRC. Brady commanded the 4th Battalion in the last four months of the war, then serving with the Army of Occupation on the Rhine, where he also commanded a battalion.
Wounded twice, Brady was appointed a companion of the Distinguished Service Order, the Croix de Guerre, and Mentioned in Despatches four times.
Returning to Southern Rhodesia in 1920, he continued to serve both with the Reserve of Officers of the Regular Army, and as the District Commander of the Southern Rhodesia Territorial Force. Upon his retirement in 1937, Brady was promoted to Colonel. He then entered into politics, successfully taking the Bulawayo North seat.
With the outbreak of World War II, Brady again put on his uniform, this time as Military Observer and Liaison Officer for Southern Rhodesia to the Middle East Campaign. However, ill-health forced him to return home, his service being recognised in June 1943 by the award of the OBE.
Colonel John Banks Brady DSO, OBE, ED, died at the age of 77 years
Lt Col J B Brady was Headmaster of Milton College, Bulawayo from 1925-1930
COLONEL J.B. BRADY (1925-1930)
'Bimbo' Brady certainly had the most varied career of all Milton's headmasters: he came to Africa as a soldier and served throughout the Boer War, remaining in the country to become Headmaster of Grey College, Bloemfontein at the remarkably early age of 27. Two years later he became an Inspector of Schools in the Orange Free State and came to Rhodesia in 1909 as a result of General Hertzog's pro Afrikaner policies. He became Inspector of Schools in Rhodesia and, on the advent of war, joined the forces in France. Four years later he was in command of the Fourth Battalion of the King's Royal Rifles, had been wounded twice, mentioned in dispatches four times and received both the D.S.O. and Croix de Guerre. He returned to Rhodesia in 1920 as Senior Inspector of Schools and succeeded Mr. de Beer in 1925. After his retirement from Milton he became Member of Parliament for Bulawayo North and in 1939 was back in the army as liaison officer with the Rhodesian forces in West Africa, subsequently Egypt. He was invalided out of the army in 1942 but his services were recognised with the award of the O.B.E. He died on 13 February 1952 at the age of 76 and, at his semi-military funeral, the Headmaster and Head Boy of Milton were two of the pall-bearers.
John Banks Brady was born in Ireland in November 1875 and was educated at Middleton College and Trinity College, Dublin. On the outbreak of hostilities in South Africa, he volunteered for the elite 45th ("Irish Hunt") Company, 13th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry, was subsequently commissioned into the Commander-in-Chief's Bodyguard, and served in Kitchener's Fighting Scouts.
Remaining in South Africa at the end of the Anglo-Boer War, Brady made rapid progress in his chosen profession in education, becoming Headmaster of Grey College, Bloemfontein in the Orange River Colony and, in 1909, Chief Inspector of Schools in Southern Rhodesia. He also found time to establish himself as an enthusiastic member of the Rhodesian Volunteers, and on learning of the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, immediately sailed for the U.K.
Rapidly commissioned as a Lieutenant on the Special List, and appointed a Captain just as quickly in the 6th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps, Brady was eventually given command of No. 16 Platoon, 'D' Company of the 3rd Battalion - otherwise known as the "Rhodesian Platoon" - and landed with it in France in December 1914. In the following year he won the first of four "mentions", transferred to the 2nd Battalion and was gassed that September at Loos. He was again mentioned in despatches and detached to a Brigade H.Q.
In 1917, however, he returned to frontline duties, won a D.S.O., the French Croix de Guerre and a further "mention", and joined the 1st Battalion that September. Less than a month later he was appointed the Battalion's 2nd in command and, in January 1918, held overall command in the rank of Temporary Major. But in the following March he was wounded in the action at Le Sars, and evacuated to the U.K.
Yet again, however, in July 1918, Brady returned to France, where he rejoined the 1st Battalion prior to taking command of the 4th Battalion as a Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel towards the end of the year. During this latter tenure of command, he regularly led reconnaissance missions to ensure the best possible outcome for his men, not least at the River Escaut, between Marquincourt Farm and Quincamp Mill, in early October 1918, and again at the crossing of the River Selle later that month. He was again mentioned in despatches.
On resigning in March 1920, in the honorary rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, Brady returned to Rhodesia to pursue his career in education, firstly as Senior Inspector of Schools, and afterwards as Headmaster of Milton School at Bulawayo, one of the largest seats of learning in the country. He also maintained his links with the military establishment, commanding the Bulawayo Military District when the defence system was re-organised, and sitting on the Southern Rhodesia Council for Defence. In addition, he was largely responsible for fostering the alliance between the K.R.R.C. and Royal Rhodesia Regiment.
In 1930 Brady retired from education and entered politics, being elected an M.P. for Bulawayo East, a seat which he held until 1946, but it was for the motion he put before the House on 24 August 1939, that he will best be remembered:
'That the Acting Prime Minister request H.E. the Governor to convey to H.M. The King the heartfelt expression of the Honourable Members of this House their humble duty and service to his Throne and person and the pledge of unfaltering service of the citizens of Southern Rhodesia to the Motherland in this hour of grave national emergency.'
The motion was carried unopposed, and Brady immediately returned to uniform as a Military Observer and Southern Rhodesia Liaison Officer to Middle East Command. One of his first tasks was to tour the West Coast of Africa, where many Rhodesians were at that time serving in readiness for deployment in the East Africa campaign, and he did good service up until being compelled to return to Rhodesia as a result of ill-health. He was awarded the O.B.E.
Brady died at the age of 77 years, his obituary in the King's Royal Rifle Corps Chronicle, noting that 'In his youth he was a fine athlete, particularly on the track, and to the last retained the long, raking stride of the quarter-miler and half-miler.'
His diaries are held by the national Archives of Zimbabwe in Harare, and extracts from them have been published in Ragtime Soldiers, by Peter McLaughlin. 'Brady Barracks' in Bulawayo still bears his name.
Colonel John Banks Brady, DSO, OBE, ED
He was born in Ennistymon, Co. Clare. He was the son of John Henry Banks, the manager of the National Bank, Ennistymon, and Isabella Banks. They were Church of Ireland.
John Banks Brady, 77, c/o The Bulawayo Club, died at Bulawayo General Hospital from Cardiac Syncope and Lobar Pneumonia. He was born in Ireland. He was single and retired.Intended place of burial: Bulawayo Cemetery.
Colonel John Banks Brady, DSO, OBE, ED
Born in Co. Clare, Ireland in November 1875, Brady began his military career shortly after leaving Dublin University when, with the outbreak of the South African War in 1899, he enlisted with the 45th "Irish Hunt" Company, 13th Battalion, The Imperial Yeomanry.
Arriving in South Africa in 1900, he was subsequently commissioned in the Commander-in-Chief's Bodyguard and Kitchener's Fighting Scouts. After the war, Brady decided to remain in South Africa to pursue his chosen profession in education, serving as Headmaster of Grey College in Bloemfontein, before becoming a schools inspector. In 1909, he took up the post of Senior Inspector of Schools in Southern Rhodesia, from where he joined the hundreds of Rhodesian volunteers heading for Britain to enlist at the start of World War I in 1914.
Commissioned on the Special List as a Lieutenant, he had the distinction of being the first commander of the Rhodesian Platoon of the KRRC, thus starting the long association of Southern Rhodesia with this famous British Regiment. After a period as a Company Commander with the 2nd Battalion KRRC, Brady was appointed as a General Staff Officer with the 4th Corps and then Brigade Major to the 148th Irish Brigade, before returning to regimental duty in 1917, becoming Second-in-Command of the 2nd Battalion KRRC. Brady commanded the 4th Battalion in the last four months of the war, then serving with the Army of Occupation on the Rhine, where he also commanded a battalion.
Wounded twice, Brady was appointed a companion of the Distinguished Service Order, the Croix de Guerre, and Mentioned in Despatches four times.
Returning to Southern Rhodesia in 1920, he continued to serve both with the Reserve of Officers of the Regular Army, and as the District Commander of the Southern Rhodesia Territorial Force. Upon his retirement in 1937, Brady was promoted to Colonel. He then entered into politics, successfully taking the Bulawayo North seat.
With the outbreak of World War II, Brady again put on his uniform, this time as Military Observer and Liaison Officer for Southern Rhodesia to the Middle East Campaign. However, ill-health forced him to return home, his service being recognised in June 1943 by the award of the OBE.
Colonel John Banks Brady DSO, OBE, ED, died at the age of 77 years
Lt Col J B Brady was Headmaster of Milton College, Bulawayo from 1925-1930
COLONEL J.B. BRADY (1925-1930)
'Bimbo' Brady certainly had the most varied career of all Milton's headmasters: he came to Africa as a soldier and served throughout the Boer War, remaining in the country to become Headmaster of Grey College, Bloemfontein at the remarkably early age of 27. Two years later he became an Inspector of Schools in the Orange Free State and came to Rhodesia in 1909 as a result of General Hertzog's pro Afrikaner policies. He became Inspector of Schools in Rhodesia and, on the advent of war, joined the forces in France. Four years later he was in command of the Fourth Battalion of the King's Royal Rifles, had been wounded twice, mentioned in dispatches four times and received both the D.S.O. and Croix de Guerre. He returned to Rhodesia in 1920 as Senior Inspector of Schools and succeeded Mr. de Beer in 1925. After his retirement from Milton he became Member of Parliament for Bulawayo North and in 1939 was back in the army as liaison officer with the Rhodesian forces in West Africa, subsequently Egypt. He was invalided out of the army in 1942 but his services were recognised with the award of the O.B.E. He died on 13 February 1952 at the age of 76 and, at his semi-military funeral, the Headmaster and Head Boy of Milton were two of the pall-bearers.
John Banks Brady was born in Ireland in November 1875 and was educated at Middleton College and Trinity College, Dublin. On the outbreak of hostilities in South Africa, he volunteered for the elite 45th ("Irish Hunt") Company, 13th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry, was subsequently commissioned into the Commander-in-Chief's Bodyguard, and served in Kitchener's Fighting Scouts.
Remaining in South Africa at the end of the Anglo-Boer War, Brady made rapid progress in his chosen profession in education, becoming Headmaster of Grey College, Bloemfontein in the Orange River Colony and, in 1909, Chief Inspector of Schools in Southern Rhodesia. He also found time to establish himself as an enthusiastic member of the Rhodesian Volunteers, and on learning of the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, immediately sailed for the U.K.
Rapidly commissioned as a Lieutenant on the Special List, and appointed a Captain just as quickly in the 6th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps, Brady was eventually given command of No. 16 Platoon, 'D' Company of the 3rd Battalion - otherwise known as the "Rhodesian Platoon" - and landed with it in France in December 1914. In the following year he won the first of four "mentions", transferred to the 2nd Battalion and was gassed that September at Loos. He was again mentioned in despatches and detached to a Brigade H.Q.
In 1917, however, he returned to frontline duties, won a D.S.O., the French Croix de Guerre and a further "mention", and joined the 1st Battalion that September. Less than a month later he was appointed the Battalion's 2nd in command and, in January 1918, held overall command in the rank of Temporary Major. But in the following March he was wounded in the action at Le Sars, and evacuated to the U.K.
Yet again, however, in July 1918, Brady returned to France, where he rejoined the 1st Battalion prior to taking command of the 4th Battalion as a Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel towards the end of the year. During this latter tenure of command, he regularly led reconnaissance missions to ensure the best possible outcome for his men, not least at the River Escaut, between Marquincourt Farm and Quincamp Mill, in early October 1918, and again at the crossing of the River Selle later that month. He was again mentioned in despatches.
On resigning in March 1920, in the honorary rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, Brady returned to Rhodesia to pursue his career in education, firstly as Senior Inspector of Schools, and afterwards as Headmaster of Milton School at Bulawayo, one of the largest seats of learning in the country. He also maintained his links with the military establishment, commanding the Bulawayo Military District when the defence system was re-organised, and sitting on the Southern Rhodesia Council for Defence. In addition, he was largely responsible for fostering the alliance between the K.R.R.C. and Royal Rhodesia Regiment.
In 1930 Brady retired from education and entered politics, being elected an M.P. for Bulawayo East, a seat which he held until 1946, but it was for the motion he put before the House on 24 August 1939, that he will best be remembered:
'That the Acting Prime Minister request H.E. the Governor to convey to H.M. The King the heartfelt expression of the Honourable Members of this House their humble duty and service to his Throne and person and the pledge of unfaltering service of the citizens of Southern Rhodesia to the Motherland in this hour of grave national emergency.'
The motion was carried unopposed, and Brady immediately returned to uniform as a Military Observer and Southern Rhodesia Liaison Officer to Middle East Command. One of his first tasks was to tour the West Coast of Africa, where many Rhodesians were at that time serving in readiness for deployment in the East Africa campaign, and he did good service up until being compelled to return to Rhodesia as a result of ill-health. He was awarded the O.B.E.
Brady died at the age of 77 years, his obituary in the King's Royal Rifle Corps Chronicle, noting that 'In his youth he was a fine athlete, particularly on the track, and to the last retained the long, raking stride of the quarter-miler and half-miler.'
His diaries are held by the national Archives of Zimbabwe in Harare, and extracts from them have been published in Ragtime Soldiers, by Peter McLaughlin. 'Brady Barracks' in Bulawayo still bears his name.
He was born in Ennistymon, Co. Clare. He was the son of John Henry Banks, the manager of the National Bank, Ennistymon, and Isabella Banks. They were Church of Ireland.
John Banks Brady, 77, c/o The Bulawayo Club, died at Bulawayo General Hospital from Cardiac Syncope and Lobar Pneumonia. He was born in Ireland. He was single and retired.Intended place of burial: Bulawayo Cemetery.
Colonel John Banks Brady, DSO, OBE, ED
Born in Co. Clare, Ireland in November 1875, Brady began his military career shortly after leaving Dublin University when, with the outbreak of the South African War in 1899, he enlisted with the 45th "Irish Hunt" Company, 13th Battalion, The Imperial Yeomanry.
Arriving in South Africa in 1900, he was subsequently commissioned in the Commander-in-Chief's Bodyguard and Kitchener's Fighting Scouts. After the war, Brady decided to remain in South Africa to pursue his chosen profession in education, serving as Headmaster of Grey College in Bloemfontein, before becoming a schools inspector. In 1909, he took up the post of Senior Inspector of Schools in Southern Rhodesia, from where he joined the hundreds of Rhodesian volunteers heading for Britain to enlist at the start of World War I in 1914.
Commissioned on the Special List as a Lieutenant, he had the distinction of being the first commander of the Rhodesian Platoon of the KRRC, thus starting the long association of Southern Rhodesia with this famous British Regiment. After a period as a Company Commander with the 2nd Battalion KRRC, Brady was appointed as a General Staff Officer with the 4th Corps and then Brigade Major to the 148th Irish Brigade, before returning to regimental duty in 1917, becoming Second-in-Command of the 2nd Battalion KRRC. Brady commanded the 4th Battalion in the last four months of the war, then serving with the Army of Occupation on the Rhine, where he also commanded a battalion.
Wounded twice, Brady was appointed a companion of the Distinguished Service Order, the Croix de Guerre, and Mentioned in Despatches four times.
Returning to Southern Rhodesia in 1920, he continued to serve both with the Reserve of Officers of the Regular Army, and as the District Commander of the Southern Rhodesia Territorial Force. Upon his retirement in 1937, Brady was promoted to Colonel. He then entered into politics, successfully taking the Bulawayo North seat.
With the outbreak of World War II, Brady again put on his uniform, this time as Military Observer and Liaison Officer for Southern Rhodesia to the Middle East Campaign. However, ill-health forced him to return home, his service being recognised in June 1943 by the award of the OBE.
Colonel John Banks Brady DSO, OBE, ED, died at the age of 77 years
Lt Col J B Brady was Headmaster of Milton College, Bulawayo from 1925-1930
COLONEL J.B. BRADY (1925-1930)
'Bimbo' Brady certainly had the most varied career of all Milton's headmasters: he came to Africa as a soldier and served throughout the Boer War, remaining in the country to become Headmaster of Grey College, Bloemfontein at the remarkably early age of 27. Two years later he became an Inspector of Schools in the Orange Free State and came to Rhodesia in 1909 as a result of General Hertzog's pro Afrikaner policies. He became Inspector of Schools in Rhodesia and, on the advent of war, joined the forces in France. Four years later he was in command of the Fourth Battalion of the King's Royal Rifles, had been wounded twice, mentioned in dispatches four times and received both the D.S.O. and Croix de Guerre. He returned to Rhodesia in 1920 as Senior Inspector of Schools and succeeded Mr. de Beer in 1925. After his retirement from Milton he became Member of Parliament for Bulawayo North and in 1939 was back in the army as liaison officer with the Rhodesian forces in West Africa, subsequently Egypt. He was invalided out of the army in 1942 but his services were recognised with the award of the O.B.E. He died on 13 February 1952 at the age of 76 and, at his semi-military funeral, the Headmaster and Head Boy of Milton were two of the pall-bearers.
John Banks Brady was born in Ireland in November 1875 and was educated at Middleton College and Trinity College, Dublin. On the outbreak of hostilities in South Africa, he volunteered for the elite 45th ("Irish Hunt") Company, 13th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry, was subsequently commissioned into the Commander-in-Chief's Bodyguard, and served in Kitchener's Fighting Scouts.
Remaining in South Africa at the end of the Anglo-Boer War, Brady made rapid progress in his chosen profession in education, becoming Headmaster of Grey College, Bloemfontein in the Orange River Colony and, in 1909, Chief Inspector of Schools in Southern Rhodesia. He also found time to establish himself as an enthusiastic member of the Rhodesian Volunteers, and on learning of the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, immediately sailed for the U.K.
Rapidly commissioned as a Lieutenant on the Special List, and appointed a Captain just as quickly in the 6th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps, Brady was eventually given command of No. 16 Platoon, 'D' Company of the 3rd Battalion - otherwise known as the "Rhodesian Platoon" - and landed with it in France in December 1914. In the following year he won the first of four "mentions", transferred to the 2nd Battalion and was gassed that September at Loos. He was again mentioned in despatches and detached to a Brigade H.Q.
In 1917, however, he returned to frontline duties, won a D.S.O., the French Croix de Guerre and a further "mention", and joined the 1st Battalion that September. Less than a month later he was appointed the Battalion's 2nd in command and, in January 1918, held overall command in the rank of Temporary Major. But in the following March he was wounded in the action at Le Sars, and evacuated to the U.K.
Yet again, however, in July 1918, Brady returned to France, where he rejoined the 1st Battalion prior to taking command of the 4th Battalion as a Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel towards the end of the year. During this latter tenure of command, he regularly led reconnaissance missions to ensure the best possible outcome for his men, not least at the River Escaut, between Marquincourt Farm and Quincamp Mill, in early October 1918, and again at the crossing of the River Selle later that month. He was again mentioned in despatches.
On resigning in March 1920, in the honorary rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, Brady returned to Rhodesia to pursue his career in education, firstly as Senior Inspector of Schools, and afterwards as Headmaster of Milton School at Bulawayo, one of the largest seats of learning in the country. He also maintained his links with the military establishment, commanding the Bulawayo Military District when the defence system was re-organised, and sitting on the Southern Rhodesia Council for Defence. In addition, he was largely responsible for fostering the alliance between the K.R.R.C. and Royal Rhodesia Regiment.
In 1930 Brady retired from education and entered politics, being elected an M.P. for Bulawayo East, a seat which he held until 1946, but it was for the motion he put before the House on 24 August 1939, that he will best be remembered:
'That the Acting Prime Minister request H.E. the Governor to convey to H.M. The King the heartfelt expression of the Honourable Members of this House their humble duty and service to his Throne and person and the pledge of unfaltering service of the citizens of Southern Rhodesia to the Motherland in this hour of grave national emergency.'
The motion was carried unopposed, and Brady immediately returned to uniform as a Military Observer and Southern Rhodesia Liaison Officer to Middle East Command. One of his first tasks was to tour the West Coast of Africa, where many Rhodesians were at that time serving in readiness for deployment in the East Africa campaign, and he did good service up until being compelled to return to Rhodesia as a result of ill-health. He was awarded the O.B.E.
Brady died at the age of 77 years, his obituary in the King's Royal Rifle Corps Chronicle, noting that 'In his youth he was a fine athlete, particularly on the track, and to the last retained the long, raking stride of the quarter-miler and half-miler.'
His diaries are held by the national Archives of Zimbabwe in Harare, and extracts from them have been published in Ragtime Soldiers, by Peter McLaughlin. 'Brady Barracks' in Bulawayo still bears his name.
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