Decorations CB, Legion d'Honneur, Order of Sacred Treasure (2nd Class) Enlistment 15/01/1880 Next of kin address Ireland More info Edward Bruen was born into the Anglo-Irish landed gentry in 1866. He began his naval career at the age of 13 as a cadet at Britannia. His first ship was the Northampton on the North American station, thereafter he served in home waters and the Mediterranean. He received excellent reports and was regularly promoted. He was promoted captain in 1906 and assisted in setting up the Royal Australian Navy in 1912. Bruen was appointed to command the dreadnought battleship Bellerophon (below) in 1913 and was still her captain at the Battle of Jutland. When the Battle Fleet deployed in line ahead she was 14th, near the centre of the British line. She fired 62 shells from her main armament and is credited with hits on the Derfflinger and possibly an enemy destroyer. She was not hit herself. Captain Bruen was mentioned in despatches ("commended in command"), awarded the Legion of Honour and appointed to command the RN's newest battleship, the Resolution. In 1917 he was promoted to Rear Admiral and commanded the 2nd Cruiser Squadron. In 1918 he was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB); he was also awarded decorations from Russia (Order of St Anne) and Japan (Order of the Sacred Treasure). Bruen retired in 1924 and lived in Suffolk. He was JP, President of the local branch of the British Legion and Director of the British Sailors Society. He died in 1952.