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	Robert Edwin Bush

He was born on the 11th October 1855. He was christened on the 14th November 1855. He was the brother of James Arthur Bush, James Paul Bush and John Ernest Bush. He was educated at Clifton College from 1865 to 1875.

In 1861 the Bush family lived at Weston Villa, Park Place, Weston-super-Mare. They were

Weston Villa is 2 Park Place and is now an office of the British Mountaineering Council

In 1871 the Bush family lived at 7 Rodney Place, Clifton. They were

Above 7 Rodney Place, Clifton.

He joined Clifton RFC in 1873. He played rugby and cricket for Gloucestershire.

He played 16 times for Gloucestershire. He was a right-hand bat and occasional wicket-keeper. His first-class career statistics are

Above 2 similar pictures of the Gloucestershire team that defeated Yorkshire at Clifton College in August 1874 by an innings and 78 runs. The team included both the Clifton RFC players James Arthur Bush and his younger brother Robert Edwin Bush. These photographs must have been taken seconds apart. The main difference is in the position of the people in the back row. These pictures are the earliest known of a Gloucestershire Cricket side.

Back Row (L-R): E.P.Warren, H.Nash, W.Fairbanks, E.Phillips, W.Strachan, E.J.Taylor, W.S.Paul, W.R.Webb, J.H.Dunn, J.Curtis, M.Curtis, F.Morris, J.G.Thomson. Middle Row: R.E.Bush, C.Strachan, A.C.St.Paul, J.D.Miller. In Front: W.R.Gribble, J.A.Bush.

Above the 1875-1876 Clifton 1st XV

Robert Bush moved to Australia to run a sheep farm near Perth, Western Australia, but returned to Bristol in 1908.

On the 12th March 1878, at the age of 23, he arrived in Freemantle in the Lady Elizabeth (658 tons). He was one of 10 first-class passengers and 85 emigrants. The Lady Elizabeth was later wrecked in 1878 at Rottnest Island near Perth , Western Australia.

He joined the gold rush to the Yilgarn after the discovery of gold there in 1887.

After exploring Western Australia he spent more than 30 years running a sheep station on the Gascoyne River. In 1890 he bought Mr Clere and Erravilla Stations in the East Gascoyne. He renamed them Upper Clifton Downs and Lower Clifton Downs.

From 1890 to July 1893 he was a member of Western Australia's first Legislative Council.

On the 28th January 1893 at St. George's Cathedral in Perth he married Constance Harper (nee Lochee) who had been widowed. Miss Louise Shenton was bridesmaid and Mr Wittenoom was best man. They had a daughter Charlotte and a son Robert. Within 3 years his wife died.

Above St. George's Cathedral, Perth.

In April 1893Motto: Peace and Prosperity Other Australian states and territories Capital Melbourne Governor HE Mr John Landy Premier Steve Bracks (ALP) Area 237,629 km² (6th)  - Land 227,416 km²  - Water 10,213 km² (4. ... he played in the first ever inter-colonial cricket match, between Western Australia and Victoria.

A son, Robert Francis Lochee Bush, was born on the 15th May 1896. He became a Brigadier in the army. He married Dulcie Frisbee on the 28th November 1925. He died on the 21st November 1955, he was living at Tollard Royal, Salisbury.

A daughter, Charlotte Bush, was born ?. She died in ?.

His first wife, Constance, died in 1896.

Above Robert Edwin Bush in 1897

In 1904 Robert Bush returned to England.

Robert Edwin Bush sailed from Hong Kong on the 21st June 1905 on the S.S. Empress of India and arrived in Vancouver, Canada on route to England on the 11th July 1905

On the 27th May 1907, then aged fifty-two, he married Majorie Scott in Stoke Bishop, Bristol.

A son, John Edward Scott Bush, was born on the 2nd April 1909 in Bristol. He was educated at Clifton College from 1922 to 1927. He married Patricia Marriott. He became a Lieutenant-Commander in the Navy and died on HMS Kipling during the evacuation of Crete on the 23rd May 1941.

A daughter, Betty Bush, was born ?. She died ?.

In 1911 Robert Edwin Bush became Sherriff of Bristol.

Above Robert Bush playing cricket for Old Cliftonians against Royal Marine Artillery at Eastney Barracks 7th-8th August 1911

From 1912 to 1939 Robert Bush was Chairman of Gloucestershire County Cricket Club.

A daughter, Diana Mary Bush, was born in 1914 in Bristol. She married Francis Colin Scott on the 13th November 1939 at St. Mary's, Stoke Bishop, Bristol. He was a Flight Lieutenant in the RAF and died on the 16th October 1940 on active service, just 11 months after they were married. He is buried at Killead (St. Catherine) Church of Ireland Churchyard. She died suddenley at Overton, Lyme Regis on the 5th March 1959.

A son, Paul Tobin Bush, was born on the 30th March 1916 in Bristol. He was educated at Clifton College from 1929 to 1934.

Above Xmas 1917 greetings signed by Robert Edwin Bush and Majorie Bush.

He converted his home, Bishop's Knoll in Stoke Bishop to a wartime hospital of 100 beds (for Australian Soldiers) at their own expense. The hospital received its first patients from 13th September 1914 and was the only privately owned hospital in the country to receive wounded soldiers directly from the front.

Above Bishop's Knoll in 1917.

Above: Ex Clifton rugby player and Gloucestershire cricketer Robert Bush and his Perth-born wife Margorie.

Standing: John Edward Scott Bush. Front (L-R): Paul Tobin Bush , Diana Mary Bush, ?.

Above the children in 1917.

On the 3rd April 1919 Robert Bush and his wife sailed on the S.S.Lapland from Liverpool, England and arrived at New York on the 12th April 1919. They travelled to San Francisco Via Paso Paso, and via Honolulu, on the S.S.Sonoma, and arrived at Perth on the 27th May 1919.

Above the S.S.Lapland

In 1919, Bush was the Australian delegate to the International Red Cross meeting at Geneva. In later life, he was involved in the film industry and in broadcasting. He travelled regularly throughout the world, returning to Western Australia 13 times.

Robert Bush was an accomplished artist and in 1929 he became President of the Bristol Savages. The Bristol Savages are a society of artists whose history dates back for over one hundred years. In 1919 they purchased The Red Lodge in Bristol which they used as a meeting place and studio. They gave the Red Lodge to Bristol City Council but still use it as their headquarters.

He became Chairman of Gloucestershire County Cricket Club from 1912 to 1939. He was at the unveiling of the Clifton Rugby War Memorial on the 21st November 1931 click here

A son, Richard Edwin Bush, was born on the 17th April 1921. He was educated at Clifton College from 1930 to 1934. He was a Pilot Officer in the RAF. He was reported missing, believed killed in April 1942. The CWGC quotes his exact death as the 4th April 1942. He is commemorated on the Runnymeade Memorial.

On the 10th June 1921 The Prince of Wales visited Bristol. At 3pm he was escorted by ex Clifton RFC player and Gloucestershire cricketer Robert Bush around the County Cricket Ground during the Gloucestershire v Australia match. Bush, wearing the silk hat, is nearest to the Prince of Wales, who in 1936 became Edward VIII.

It was reported in The Times on the 14th October 1922 that Robert Bush was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of the County of Gloucester and of the city of Gloucester and the city and county of Bristol.

Above Gallipoli Day being commemorated in 1925 at Arnos Vale Cemetery by Mr E. C. Philp, left, and Robert Bush, right

Above Gallipoli Day being commemorated in 1927 at Arnos Vale Cemetery by Robert Bush, left, and Bishop Clifford, right.

His daughter Diana Mary Bush married Francis Colin Scott on the 13th November 1939.

He died at Bishop’s Knoll on 29th December 1939.

His obituary appeared in The Times on the30th December 1939 and said:

BUSH:-On Dec. 29, 1939, at Bishop's Knoll, Stoke Bishop, Bristol, ROBERT EDWIN BUSH, J.P., D.L., Knight of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, fourth son of the late Major Robert Bush, of Clifton. Cremation, January 1, 1 o'clock, Arnos Vale, to be followed by a memorial service, Bristol Cathedral, 2 o'clock. No flowers or mourning. (Australian papers, please copy)

The Times reported on the 2nd of January 1940

A memorial service was held at Bristol Cathedral on the 1st January 1940. The service was conducted by the Dean, assisted by Canon L. G. Mannering and Canon F. Norton. Members of the family and others present included:- Mrs Bush (widow), Lieutenant-Colonel R.F.L.Bush and Mr Richard Bush (sons), Miss Charlotte Bush, Miss Betty Bush, and Mrs.F.C.Scott (daughters). Mr. amd Mrs.J.F.H.Harper (stepson and daughter), Mr.A.D.Imlay (Bursar, Clifton College), Mr E.G.Sharp and Mr.V.F.Eberle (members of the Council of Clifton College), Major H.A.Henson, Mr.F.Wills, Mr. W.E.Lamber, Mr.W.R.Giles, and Mr.W.G.Tunnicliffe (representing Gloucestershire County Cricket Club), Mr.S.W.Cornwell (representing Colonel E.S.Sinnott), Mrs. Edith Robinson White, Mr. Frank Moore, Mr.C.T.Budgett, Mr.G.Talbot Plum, Sir Ernest Cook, Sir Lionel Goodenough Taylor, Mr.E.J.Taylor, Mr.J.F.Bicker, Sir John Inskip, Mr.H.G.Tanner, Surgeon Captain W.Kenneth Wills, Colonel P.G.Robinson, Mr.T.Hosegood Davis, Miss N.H.Cowlin (also representing Sir Francis N. Cowlin), and Mr.F.C.Williams.

His son, Lieutenant Commander John Edward Scott Bush, died on the 23rd May 1941 on HMS Kipling. He left a wife Patricia Mary Bush in Rugby, Warwickshire.