Lieut.-Colonel Bryant Gustavus SYMES, D.S.O., O.B.E. (14720)
Commanded the 2nd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment from November 1943 to October 1945.
 
Bryant Gustavus Symes was born on the 13th March 1900 at Weymouth, Dorset. Son of Gustavus Phelps Symes (army Colonel of Volunteer Soldiers) and Jessie Hetley Symes (née Betts).

Bryant Gustavus Symes was educated at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.

He was commissioned into The Dorsetshire Regiment (emergency commission) on the 14th July 1921 with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 14th July 1923.

In 1931 (March) he served with the 1st Battalion The Dorset Regiment at Chakrata, India. In June 1933 they moved to Sialkot.

Promoted to Captain on the 1st September 1936.

By January 1937, still serving with the 1st Battalion The Dorset Regiment he was now at Landi Kotal the highest point on the Khyber Pass and is the route across the mountains to the city of Peshawaron on the Afghanistan border.

He was promoted to Major on the 1st August 1938.
 


Lieut.-Colonel B. G. Symes
Known as Sam Symes
(awaiting photo)
   

In January 1939 he joined the 2nd Battalion The Dorset Regiment at Aldershot.

The 2nd Battalion The Dorset Regiment joined the British Expeditionary Force and were sent to France and Belgium, where they remained until they were drive back to Dunkirk by the advancing German forces in May 1940.

He was awarded the O.B.E. for distinguished service in the field (London Gazette 11th July 1940).

As Temporary Lieut.-Colonel he Commanded The 2nd Battalion The Worcestershire Regiment in  Burma from November 1943 to October 1945. For his service in Burma he was awarded the D.S.O. (London Gazette 6th June 1946) and twice mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 10th January 1946 and 9th May 1946).

In October 1945 he returned to India for a rest (medically unfit).

He retired from the army on the 29th June 1950 and granted the Honorary rank of Lieut.-Colonel.

Bryant Gustavus Symes died on the 27th March 1974 (age 74) at Folkestone, Kent.
 
 

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