Brigadier General Richard Edgar Sugden



Brigadier General Richard Edgar Sugden CB, CMG, DSO, TD, GOC, DL, JP.

- popularly known as R.E. – was born 21st August 1871, the eldest son of Richard Sugden.

He was educated at Marlborough. He and his brothers, George and Albert, continued the family business.

He was a keen Rugby player. He captained Brighouse Rangers and played for Yorkshire [1895-1896]. He was President of Brighouse Chamber of Commerce.

In 1899/1900, he volunteered to serve with the Imperial Yeomanry in the Boer War. His unit was the first volunteer regiment to reach South Africa.

In 1904, he joined the 4th Battalion the Duke of Wellington's Regiment.

In September 1915, he was wounded near Ypres, and returned to the battalion in November. He was mentioned in dispatches several times and received the DSO and bar for service. He was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael & St John [1919], and a Companion of the Order of the Bath [1926].

He remained in the Territorial Army after the war and commanded the 147th [2nd West Riding] Brigade until he retired in 1926.

In 1908, he bought Brook House – on the corner of Atlas Mill Road and Bridge Road, Brighouse – for his forthcoming marriage to Alice Healey.

They married on 30th December 1907. His young bride died in January 1908 after a skating accident during their honeymoon in Paris.

In 1910, he married Nora, daughter of William Henry Wayman.

Children:

  1. Peter
  2. Geoffrey
  3. Yvonne

The family lived at Newlands, Brighouse.

He was made a Freeman of the Borough of Brighouse in 1943.

He was in failing health in his latter years, and died at The Retreat home in York [9th May 1951].

After his death, Nora went to live in Hove, Sussex


See George Crowther



© Malcolm Bull 2023
Revised 14:50 / 30th December 2023 / 5125

Page Ref: WW_130

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