# James Gildea

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This article is about the British philanthropist. For the American newspaperman and politician, see [James H. Gildea](/source/James_H._Gildea).

**Sir James Gildea** (23 June 1838 – 6 November 1920) was a [British Army](/source/British_Army) [Militia](/source/Militia) officer and philanthropist who founded the [Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Families Association](/source/Soldiers',_Sailors'_and_Airmen's_Families_Association).

Gildea was born in [Kilmaine](/source/Kilmaine), [County Mayo](/source/County_Mayo), [Ireland](/source/Ireland). His father was the [Provost](/source/Provost_(religion)) of [Tuam](/source/Tuam). He was educated at [St Columba's College, Dublin](/source/St_Columba's_College,_Dublin), and [Pembroke College, Cambridge](/source/Pembroke_College,_Cambridge).[1] During the [Franco-Prussian War](/source/Franco-Prussian_War) he worked for the [National Society for Aid to the Sick and Wounded in War](/source/National_Society_for_Aid_to_the_Sick_and_Wounded_in_War) and he later raised money for the families of those killed in the [Zulu War](/source/Zulu_War) of 1879 and the [Second Afghan War](/source/Second_Afghan_War) of 1880.

In 1885, he founded the Soldiers' and Sailors' Families Association, which became the Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Families Association in 1919, and served as its chairman and treasurer until his death.

From 1890 to 1895 he was organising secretary of [Queen Victoria's Jubilee Institute for Nurses](/source/Queen_Victoria's_Jubilee_Institute_for_Nurses). He founded the [Royal Homes for Officers' Widows and Daughters](/source/Royal_Homes_for_Officers'_Widows_and_Daughters) at [Wimbledon](/source/Wimbledon,_London) in 1899 and was also at one time treasurer of the [St. John Ambulance Association](/source/St._John_Ambulance_Association).

From 1890 to 1898, Gildea commanded the 6th (Militia) [Battalion](/source/Battalion), [Royal Warwickshire Regiment](/source/Royal_Warwickshire_Regiment).

He was appointed [Companion of the Order of the Bath](/source/Companion_of_the_Order_of_the_Bath) (CB) in the [1898 New Year Honours](/source/1898_New_Year_Honours) list, and [Commander of the Royal Victorian Order](/source/Commander_of_the_Royal_Victorian_Order) (CVO) in 1901.[2] [Knighted](/source/Knight_Bachelor) in December 1902,[3][4] he was later appointed [Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order](/source/Knight_Commander_of_the_Royal_Victorian_Order) (KCVO), and in the 1920 civilian war honours was appointed [Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire](/source/Knight_Grand_Cross_of_the_Order_of_the_British_Empire) (GBE).[5]

## Footnotes

1. No. 27296. 19 March 1901. p. 2019.

1. No. 27513. 6 January 1903. p. 105.

1. "New Knights". No. 36914. 1 November 1902. p. 11.

1. No. 31840. 30 March 1920. p. 3757.

## References

- Obituary, *[The Times](/source/The_Times)*, 8 November 1920

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