1. Geoffrey Bruce took part in the 1924 British Mount Everest expedition, and for a time was slated to make the first summit attempt with George Mallory, before the party was forced to retreat and Mallory subsequently went for the top with Sandy Irvine.
Geoffrey Bruce, born on 4 December 1896, was a son of Colonel Sir Gerald Bruce.
Geoffrey Bruce married Marjorie Isabel Crump in 1932 and they had two daughters.
Geoffrey Bruce participated in the North-West Frontier Province operations between 1920 and 1923, and again between 1937 and 1938.
Geoffrey Bruce then attended the RAF Staff College, Andover in 1932, before returning to the Staff College, Quetta, this time as an instructor, from 1933 to 1936.
Geoffrey Bruce was promoted to Commanding Officer of the 2nd Battalion 6th Gurkha Rifles in 1937.
Geoffrey Bruce had a distinguished career during the Second World War, at the beginning of which he was attending the Imperial Defence College in London, serving in Norway and France in 1940, before returning to India to command the 17th Indian Infantry Brigade at the time of its formation.
Geoffrey Bruce was Commandant of the Civil Defence Staff College from 1952 to 1956.
In 1922, at the age of 25, Geoffrey Bruce had no mountaineering experience except for hill scrambling in the North-West Frontier, but he was invited by his cousin General Charles Geoffrey Bruce, the leader of that year's Everest expedition, to take part as third transport officer and interpreter.
Geoffrey Bruce was willing to cooperate, although this sort of artificial aid was regarded with scepticism or even disdain by many members of the party.
Suddenly the glass T-piece of Geoffrey Bruce's oxygen set broke, but Finch was able to replace it while they shared Finch's oxygen.
Geoffrey Bruce's feet were completely numb and Finch feared they might be lost to frostbite, although Geoffrey Bruce staged a full recovery and was able to return to his regiment later in the year.
At the 1924 Winter Olympics, Geoffrey Bruce was one of the thirteen members of the expedition awarded an Olympic gold medal.
The next Everest expedition, which took place in 1924, was led by General Charles Bruce, and this time Captain Geoffrey Bruce was one of the main climbers as well as being transport officer.
Later, on the East Rongbuk glacier, after bad weather had driven everyone back to base camp and a second approach was being made, the plan was for Mallory and Geoffrey Bruce to establish Camp V at about 7,800 metres and then make the first summit bid.
Geoffrey Bruce was later invited to be the leader of the Everest expedition of 1933 and of 1935, but was unable to accept due to his army commitments.