BEAUFORT, FRANCIS HUGH, Capt., 2nd Battn. Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire L.I., s. of Major Francis Beaufort, Royal Artillery, by his wife, Adela Hastings, dau. of Edward Divett, of Bystock, near Exmouth, M.P. for Exeter (1832–64); b. Camberley, Surrey, 27 July, 1883; educ. St. David’s, Reigate, Stone House, Broadstairs, Wellington College, and Christ Church, Oxford (B.A. 1904); while still at Oxford he was attached to the Devonshire Regt. for military training (1904); was nominated by the University for a commission, and was gazetted to the 1st Battn. of the Oxford and Bucks Regt. as 2nd Lieut., 16 Aug. 1905; served in India and Burmah, being promoted Lieut., 10 Aug. 1907, and Capt. 2nd Battn., 18 April, 1914. He was present at the action near Richebourg L’Avoué on 15–16 May, 1915, when the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire L.I. and Inniskillings captured some German breastworks, came unharmed out of the terrific fighting during the night, but was shot in the morning by a sniper while trying to reach his Commanding Officer. He was buried in an orchard about two miles west of Richebourg L’Avoué. Capt. Beaufort m., Bamburgh, co. Northumberland, 31 Dec. 1913, Charlotte Gwendoline Frances, 3rd dau. of the late Charles Hope, of Shorestone Hall, near Bamburgh, s.p. Capt. Beaufort was descended from François de Beaufort, a Captain in the Dutch service, and afterwards “Chancelier de la Cour à Lippe-Detmold,” who migrated from France on the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685, and was by letters patent dated at Vienna, 4 Mar. 1710, which recognised his antecedent French nobility, cr. by the Emperor Joseph I., a noble of the Holy Roman Empire for himself and all his descendants. His fourth son, Daniel Cornelis de Beaufort (b. Wesel, 29 July, 1700), took Holy Orders, and was naturalised in Great Britain by Act of Parliament, 15 April, 1742, and died Archdeacon of Tuam and Rector of Clonenagh Queen’s Co., 1788.

BEAUFORT, OSTCLIFFE HAROLD, 2nd Lieut., 1/6th Battn. North Staffordshire Regt. (T.F.), 2nd s. of John William Beaufort, Managing Director of Messrs. Elliott & Fry, Ltd., of 55–56, Baker Street, W., by his wife, Lucy Anne, dau. of John Ostcliffe; b. Birmingham, 20 Oct. 1893; educ. Wellington College, Salop, and Birmingham University where he was for several years a member of the O.T.C.; gazetted as 2nd Lieut. to the 1/6th Staffords, 26 Aug. 1914, went to the front Feb. 1915, was wounded in Aug. 1915, and afterwards appointed Brigade Grenade Officer, and was killed in the fighting for the Hohenzollern Redoubt, 13 Oct. 1915; unm. Writing to his brother on the previous day, he said: “We attack to-morrow afternoon, hold the new trenches all night and get relieved the next night. If I see these three days through all will be well, and leave will be granted.” His Colonel wrote: “He was a very good and reliable officer, never sparing himself, and doing everything to the best of his ability”; and his Major: “He came to the regt. a stranger, but very soon endeared himself to everyone. He was a most efficient officer, and any duty given him was done in a most satisfactory manner.” A brother officer, writing to his father, gave the following interesting account of the fighting that day: “He, Beaufort, was killed in the trenches 2½ miles N.E. of Bethune, 6 miles south of La Bassée. As you know, he was Brigade Grenade Officer, and he was in charge of the bombing party, whose job it was to turn the Germans out of a trench known as ‘Big Willie,’ which runs south from the Hohenzollern Redoubt. He and his party were in part of ‘Big Willie,’ which our division held, and he commenced bombing it simultaneously with the charge. They made good headway, but the attack was driven back. Harold commenced to go back along a communication trench to issue further orders to the N.C.Os. in charge of the Brigade Store, when a high explosive shrapnel shell burst close beside him. The brass nose cap and time fuse, a piece of metal about the size of a cricket ball, hit him in the right breast and came out of the left shoulder blade, killing him instantaneously. He was buried in the rear of the trenches, along with four other brave officers who fell. The time was about 2.20 p.m. on Wednesday, 13 Oct. 1915. The arrangement for the supply of bombs and grenades was excellent, but Harold had not reckoned with the attack failing. His orders were for the Brigade Store to be transferred to ‘Big Willie’ when the German front line was taken. It was not taken, and Harold was afraid that all the bombs would be brought up, as in the excitement is was very difficult for everyone to know what had happened, and probably his storekeeper would imagine that we had succeeded. If the bombs had been sent up it is very likely that a German grenade would have dropped on them and detonated the lot. To save this loss, which could not have been replaced under at least an hour, Harold went back and met his death. He had done a very good work; he was in front of his men, throwing bombs and encouraging the others, and without a doubt was the means of keeping the bombers together. Only three of his party got out safely, and they cannot say anything good enough about him; they say he was marvellous. Enclosed is a rough map of the trenches. Harold was at A bombing to the left. The battalion were in the trench marked B, and they charged across the open to ‘Big Willie.’ I was at C with the machine guns covering Harold’s party. We two were isolated from the battalion during the attack, so I don’t think there is another officer who could tell you more than I can, except N. C. Joseph, who was the battalion bombing officer, and he lies now at the Bournbrook Hospital with a broken jaw and a bullet in each leg. We have heard from him, and he writes it will be about ten weeks before he is able to speak, but he could write you and give fuller particulars, as he was with Harold all the time. By 4 p.m. Thursday, 14 Oct. the Hohenzollern Redoubt and ‘Big Willie’ were entirely in our hands, at the cost of about 170 officers and 4,000 men.”

BECHER, HENRY OWEN DABRIDGCOURT, Capt., 1st Battn. (Scottish Rifles) Cameronians, elder s. of the Rev. Harry Becher, Rector of Rosscarbery, co. Cork, by his wife, Zoê Louisa, dau. of the late R. M. Hudson, of Oak Lea, Sunderland; b. Curate’s House, Houghton-le-Spring, co. Durham, 15 Aug. 1889; educ. Grammar School, Haverfordwest, Marlborough and Sandhurst; was gazetted to the 1st Battn. Cameronians, 20 April, 1910, and promoted Lieut. 15 Feb. 1913, and Capt. 11 March, 1915. On the outbreak of war he went to the Front with the first Expeditionary Force, and served continuously through the winter of 1914–15, including the retreat from Mons, etc. He was killed in action at Bois Grenier, 13 March, 1915, two days after he had obtained his company, and was buried with four brother officers behind the police barracks at Bois Grenier; unm. Major Oakley, in command of the regt. at the time, wrote that he was killed “about 9 a.m. He was going his company trenches and was talking to some men. He stood right up, but only just showing, when he was shot dead. He was in command of C Coy. at the time, and had been ever since Capt. Jack left sick. You know how highly we all thought of him. As for myself, I feel it impossible to write all I think. He has been my constant companion and right-hand man in the company ever since the regt. came home from S. Africa—so hard working, reliable, clever, good with the men and beloved by all on this campaign. What we all thought of him in peace has been more than proved in war.” And Brig.-Gen. F. Gordon: “As Commander of the 19th Infantry Brigade, I wish to express to you my heartfelt sympathy in the death, in the trenches, of your dear son, Capt. H. O. D. Becher, 1st Cameronians. He was a very gallant and valuable young officer, of the type that can ill be spared at such a time. He was not only a particularly efficient and capable officer, but was a general favourite.”

BECHER, MAURICE ANDREW NOEL, Capt., 1st Battn. King’s Own Scottish Borderers, only s. of Brig.-Gen. Andrew Cracroft Becher, of Howbury, St. Andrews, Fife, late Norfolk Regt., and now commanding the .... Division, by his wife, Frances Maude, dau. of the late Maurice Johnson, of Ayscough Fee Hall, co. Lincoln; b. Lowestoft, 30 Dec. 1884; educ. Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge; gazetted to the King’s Own Scottish Borderers, 28 June, 1905, promoted Lieut. 24 July, 1907, and Capt. 15 May, 1914. On the outbreak of war he returned with his battn. from India in Oct. 1914, and proceeded to the Dardanelles with the 29th Division. He was killed, 26 April, 1915, the morning following the landing at Y Beach, Gallipoli, conspicuous to the last, as the few survivors relate, by his coolness and daring. He m. at St. Andrews, 18 Dec. 1912, Violet Isabel, yr. dau. of Charles Todd, of St. Andrews, and left two daus.: Frances Isabel, b. 16 Dec. 1913; Anne Violet, b. 26 Sept. 1915.

BECK, ARTHUR, Private, No. 13356, 4th Battn. Coldstream Guards; 3rd s. of John William Beck, of 119, Latimer Road, Eastbourne, by his wife, Alice, dau. of David Styles, of West Hoathly, co. Sussex; b. Turner’s Hill, co. Sussex, 22 Oct. 1894; educ. there; enlisted 31 Oct. 1914, and d. at Caterham Military Hospital, 7 Feb. 1915, of spotted fever and meningitis contracted while on active service; unm.

BECK, JOSEPH, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 3130), S.S. 506, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

BECK, ROBERT LEONARD, Acting Leading Stoker, K. 11017, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

BECKETT, RICHARD, A.B. (R.F.R., Ch. B. 693), 125116, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

BEDDOW, RICHARD CHARLES, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 4338), S.S. 102882, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

BEDFORD, CONRAD THOMAS, Private, No. 9499, 1/5 Battn. (London Rifle Brigade) The London Regt. (T.F.), only s. of Thomas Arthur Bedford, Clerk in the London Joint Stock Bank (d. 24 Nov. 1899), by his wife, Clara, dau. of Walter W. Roberts, of Upper Holloway; b. Bowes Park, N., 8 Aug. 1891; educ. Seaford College (Col. Savage), Sussex, where he was for four years in the College Cadet Corps (attached to the Royal Sussex Engineers) and left with the rank of corpl. On leaving school in 1909, he became a clerk in the London Joint Stock Bank, and in Feb. 1913, joined the London Rifle Brigade. On the outbreak of war he volunteered for foreign service, went to the front with the L.R.B., 4 Nov. 1914, was slightly wounded by a gunshot in the right shoulder at Ploegsteert at 2 a.m. on 27 Feb. 1915, and died at the American Women’s War Hospital, Paignton, South Devon, 15 March, following, of blood poisoning; unm. A comrade wrote: “May I say how keenly his death was felt by the men who knew him and liked him, as we all did. He was one of the cheery ones always, and always ready to do everything he could to help anyone.”

BEDFORD, HAROLD, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 4821), S.S. 1709, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

BEDFORD, HERBERT, Gunner, R.M.A. (R.F.R., B. 532), late R.M.A., 5559, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

BEE, HARRY, Leading Seaman, J. 5226, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

BEECH, ALBERT, Private, No. 10385, 1st Battn. Coldstream Guards, s. of James Beech, of Blyton, Gainsborough, Lincoln, by his wife, Rhoda, dau. of John Warriner; b. Blyton, 3 March, 1893; enlisted Aug. 1913, went to the front with the Expeditionary Force, and was reported missing after the Battle of the Marne, 29 Oct. 1914, and is now supposed to have been killed on that date; unm.

BEECHAM, ARTHUR ROBERT, Sergt., R.M.A., 5645, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

BEECHING, JOHN, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 6257), H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

BEECHING, LUKE, A.B. (Ports.) 208406, R.N., s. of John Beeching, by his wife, Eliza; b. Hastings, 1 Sept. ...; educ. there; joined the Navy in 1901, and was lost when H.M.S. Cressy was torpedoed in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914. He m. Portsmouth, 27 July, 1908, Mary Ann Elizabeth (C.G. Station, Walmer, Kent), dau. of George William Good, R.N., and left one son and two daus.: Henry Alexander, b. 30 July, 1910; Dorothy Cecilia, b. 10 April, 1913; Hilda Cressy, b. 2 Nov. 1914.

BEECROFT, GEORGE, Private, No. 8998, 1st Battn. Suffolk Regt., s. of William Richard Beecroft, Private, No. 9866, 8th Battn. Suffolk Regt., by his wife, Ellen (25, Rope Walk, Ipswich), dau. of Samuel Cracknell (late of Bradfield, co. Essex); b. Chiswick, 2 Jan. 1897; educ. Clifford Road School, Ipswich; enlisted 21 July, 1914, and was killed by a sniper in trying to get some water for a wounded comrade at the Battle of Ypres, 18 Feb. 1915; unm.

BEER, FREDERICK JAMES, Private, No. 8251, 2nd Battn. Coldstream Guards, s. of James Beer, of 18, Kinsman Dale, Moretonhampstead, co. Devon, steam crane driver in granite quarry, by his wife, Eliza Ann, dau. of John Underhill Ford; b. Moretonhampstead, 20 June, 1890; educ. Pound Street Boys’ School there; enlisted 9 Jan. 1909; served three years with the colours, and then passed into the Reserve, joining the Tiverton Police Force. On the declaration of war he was called up, left Windsor on 26 Aug. 1914, arrived at Southampton at 9.30 p.m., and went on board the Lake Michigan, sailing at 3.30 on the morning of the 27th. Extracts from his diary state: “Arrived at Havre 4 o’clock on the 28th, and went into camp; distance seven miles. Left camp Monday afternoon about 3 o’clock, and embarked on board the Minneapolis, and after a rough voyage arrived at destination and went into camp about three miles west of St. Nazaire, about 18,000 in camp. Left St. Nazaire on 18 Sept. by train, passing through Segre. Took part in the battle of Chevonne. On 25 Sept. took up our position in trenches. Could hear the band of the Germans playing. 5 Oct. went out sniping, got shelled, and brought in a wounded comrade from a wood to the trenches, a distance of 200 yards. A shell exploded injuring five. On 4 Oct. attacked the Germans to the left of the town of Boeschebe and drove them off; 26 Oct. saw an aeroplane burned at 3 o’clock.” He was killed in action at Rentel Woods, Belgium, 5 Nov. 1914; unm.

BEER, GEORGE HENRY, Boy, 1st Class, J. 23495 (Devon.), H.M.S. Hawke; lost in action in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.

BEER, HARRY, Private, G. 30, 2nd Battn. East Kent Regt. (The Buffs), s. of Frederick Beer, of 40, Chapel Street, Ramsgate; served with Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action, 29 Sept. 1915.

BEER, WILLIAM EDWARD, Drummer, No. 8113, 1st Battn. East Kent Regt. (The Buffs), s. of William Beer, of The Green, Littlebourne, near Dover; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action, 11 Nov. 1914.

BEERLING, THOMAS WILLIAM, A.B., J. 6394, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

BEESLEY, DICK, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 8589), S.S. 104951, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

BEGG, ALEXANDER, Leading Stoker (R.F.R., B. 2583), 282446 (Ports.), H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

BEGLEY, DENIS FRANCIS, Gunner (Immed. Class, R.F.R., 96), H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

BEHENNA, WILLIAM HENRY, Private, No. 1311, 3rd Battn. Australian Imperial Force, s. of William Henry Behenna; b. Blackheath, co. Kent, 23 Jan. 1889; educ. there; went to Australia, and joined the Commonwealth Expeditionary Force in Sept. 1914; killed in action at Lone Pine, Gallipoli, 7 Aug. 1915; unm.

BEHRENS, ROBERT PHILIP, Lieut., 2nd Battn. South Wales Borderers (24th Regt.), eldest s. of George Benjamin Behrens, of Vron Yw, Denbigh, J.P., by his wife, Helen Elizabeth, dau. of John Morgan Davies, of Froodvale, Carmarthen, D.L., J.P.; b. ... 4 Dec. 1893; educ. at Cordwalles, Maidenhead, under the Rev. C. R. Carter, from 1905–07 at Winchester (Mr. Nowell Smith’s, afterwards Mr. Irving’s house), and Sandhurst; gazetted 2nd Lieut. 5 Feb. 1912, being temporarily attached to the 1st Battn. South Wales Borderers till Sept., when he went out in charge of a draft to Tientsin to join the 2nd Battn.; promoted Lieut. 17 Sept. 1914, and was present with his regiment at the capture of Tsing-tau that autumn. He was shot at the landing at de Totts’ Battery, in Gallipoli on Sunday, 25 April, 1915, and was buried at sea at the entrance to the Dardanelles from H.M.S. Cornwallis; unm. His Colonel wrote that, even as he lay mortally wounded, he continued to encourage his men to press forward. At Winchester, Behrens rowed stroke in his house-boat in 1910, and was champion middle-weight boxer, and at Sandhurst he was head of his company in riding and one of the Sandhurst representatives in the sabreing competition at the Royal Military Tournament in 1912.

BELCHER, ALBERT, Private, No. 9781, 2nd Battn. Royal Scots (Lothian Regt.); served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders; killed in action near Ypres, 3 June, 1915; m.

BELCHIER, FRANK ELLIOT, M.C., Capt., 1st East Lancashire Regt., yst. s. of the late Henry Nathaniel Belchier, of the London Stock Exchange, by his wife, Mary Helen (Elm Lodge, Surbiton Hill Road, Surbiton), dau. of John Allenby, of Naburn, co. Yorks; b. Surbiton, 24 June, 1891; educ. Wellesley House, Broadstairs, Marlborough, and Sandhurst; entered the Army, 4 March, 1911, promoted Lieut. 27 Dec. following, and Capt. 15 Nov. 1914, and was for some time Acting Adjutant of the battn., resigning that position, 23 Dec. 1914. He was killed in action at Ypres, 20 May, 1915; unm., and was buried at the Irish farm near that place. Capt. Belchier was mentioned in F.M. Sir John French’s Despatch [London Gazette, 17 Feb. 1915], and was awarded the Military Cross in recognition of his services in the field in Feb. 1915. A fellow officer wrote: “As Adjutant he had special work and did splendidly all through the retreat on Paris and afterwards.”

BELDHAM, ARTHUR, A.B., J. 5870, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

BELDOM, GEORGE NOAH, Private, No. 2390, 2nd Battn. East Surrey Regt.; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; was reported missing, 9 May, 1915, and is now assumed to have been killed in action on that date; m.

BELL, ALAN ROBERT, Private, No. 77438, 7th (British Columbia) Battn., Canadian Expeditionary Force, yst. s. of the late Thomas Best Bell, of Netherall, Sidcup, General Manager and Secretary of the Lion Fire Insurance Company, of London, by his wife, Mary (St. John’s Lodge, Sevenoaks), dau. of Robert Williams Soady, of Lincoln’s Inn, Barrister-at-Law; b. Surbiton, 11 April, 1885; educ. Shrewsbury House School, Surbiton, and Bradfield College, Berks; was for three years with the Royal Exchange Assurance, London, and afterwards studied poultry farming and went to Alberta, and from there to Duncan, Vancouver Island, where he took up land surveying. He enlisted in the 30th Battn. of the Canadian Expeditionary Force in Sept. 1914, left for England 14 Feb. 1915, and was drafted into the 7th Battn., crossing to France on 2 May, 1915. He was killed in action in the attack on the position known as K5, at Festubert, 24 May, 1915, and was buried there in the rear of the first British line. The Chaplain, the Rev. Wm. Barton, wrote that his “company was in the reserve trench, which was subjected to a pitiless hail of high explosives and shrapnel for nine hours on 24 May, and the casualties were heavy. The marvel was not that many were killed and wounded, but that any of them came out alive.” And the sergt. of his platoon, Sergt. J. H. Cleland, wrote of him: “He was a splendid fellow, greatly liked by us all, and became a good soldier. His calmness and fortitude under a very heavy shell fire at Festubert were splendid, and when I look back and realise that they were all with the sole exception of myself new to active service, I can only say I am very proud to have been in charge of such a splendid lot of fellows.”

BELL, ALBERT HENDERSON, Assistant Paymaster, R.N.R., H.M.S. Goliath, yr. s. of the late Frederick Bell, of Itchen, Hants, by his wife, Louisa Maud (Woolston, Southampton), dau. of Henry Dampier, late of Winchester; b. Itchen, 29 Aug. 1886; educ. Woolston College; was a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and was associated with the firm of Messrs. Deloitte Plender, Griffiths & Co., of London; joined the R.N.R. in 1910, and was lost in the Goliath at the Dardanelles, 12 May, 1915; unm.

BELL, ALBERT WILLIAM, Private, No. 19001, 1st Battn. King’s Own Scottish Borderers, s. of Joseph Henry Bell, of 40, Fountas Street, Leeds, Drayman, by his wife, Mary, dau. of (—) Dobson, of Scarborough; b. Leeds, 30 May, 1891; educ. Park Lane Council School there; was a goods porter in the service of the London & North Western Railway; enlisted 5 Jan. 1915; left England for the Dardanelles, 25 May, 1915, and died 11 Aug. 1915, from wounds received in action there. He m. at Leeds, 28 July, 1914, Lilly (35, Fountain Street, Leeds), dau. of Fred Hartley, and had a son, James, b. 18 Sept. 1914.

BELL, ALEXANDER, Private, No. 14162, Royal Scots (Lothian Regt.), s. of Alexander Bell, of Bridgeton, Glasgow; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action near Ypres, 25 Sept. 1915.

BELL, ALEXANDER MURRAY-MACGREGOR, Capt., 1st Battn. Royal Scots Fusiliers, 2nd s. of William Bell, of 26, Albert Place, Stirling, Lieut.-Col. late 56th Regt. (now 2nd Essex and Army Pay Dept.), by his wife, Isabel Margaret, dau. of Major-Gen. Evan Murray-MacGregor, Bombay Cavalry; b. Weymouth, 4 Sept. 1880; educ. Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Kingston, and Stirling High School; gazetted 2nd Lieut. 3rd (Militia) Battn. of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 30 Dec. 1901, served with them in South Africa, 1 Feb.-23 Sept. 1902, receiving the South African medal with two clasps. He was gazetted to the Royal Garrison Artillery, 4 Feb. 1903, and was transferred to the Dorset Regt., 6 May, 1905. On 8 Jan. 1907, he was promoted Lieut. and posted to Royal Scots Fusiliers, and became Capt. 28 May, 1912. From May, 1904, to May, 1905, was A.D.C. to the Governor of Natal, and Superintendent Gymnasia, Scottish Command, Feb. 1913–Nov. 1914, when he rejoined his regt. in Flanders, and was appointed Adjutant of the 1st Battn., Dec. 1914. He died in London, 28 April. 1915, of wounds received in action near Ypres, 19 Feb. preceding; unm. The officer commanding his Battn. wrote: “The regt. was moving across some open ground under heavy shell fire, and your son and I were together at the moment we were both knocked over. He was hit on the back and right arm. I can only assure you that his gallantry and devotion to duty has been most marked.” Capt. Bell was mentioned in F.M. Sir John French’s Despatch of 31 May, 1915.

BELL, (ALFRED) RAY LANCASTER, 2nd Lieut., 5th. attd. 2nd. Battn. Royal Dublin Fusiliers, only child of Alfred Bell, of 23, Morehampton Road, Dublin, formerly of Ardcarne, Ballinasloe, co. Galway, by his wife, Annie Ray Bell, dau. of James Bell, Lieut., 3rd Buffs, nephew of the late Major Lancaster Bell, R.A., and grandson of Capt. James Bell, of the 64th Regt.; b. Ballinasloe, 10 Feb. 1896; educ. at St. George’s and Rosse Colleges, Dublin. He entered the Army on the outbreak of war; was gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the 5th Battn. of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers 15 Aug. 1914, and was attached to the 2nd Battn. then at the Front, May, 1915. He reached the firing line on 15 May, was wounded by shrapnel in the lung at the second Battle of Ypres on the 17th, and d. four hours later in the 12th Field Ambulance, near Vlamertynghe. He was unm. and was buried in the military cemetery there.

BELL, CEDRIC MOLESWORTH, Private, No. 9215, 5th Battn. (London Rifle Brigade) The London Regt., s. of Angus Alger Bell, of 120, Wightman Road, N., Chief Accountant at the Royal Academy of Music, and Sergt.-Major 5th London Brigade, R.F.A., by his wife, Agnes, dau. of Thomas Bell Weeks; b. Harringay, 22 May, 1893; educ. Owen’s School, Islington; joined the London Rifle Brigade in 1911, and volunteered for foreign service on the outbreak of war. He went to the Front in Nov. 1914, and on 4 Dec. was wounded in action by shrapnel and invalided home. He rejoined his regt. in France in March, 1915, was wounded by shell fire on 26 April, 1915, during the attack on Hill 60, and died before reaching the casualty clearing station; unm. He was buried in Bailleul Cemetery.

BELL, CHARLES OCKLEY, 2nd Lieut., 2nd Battn. Bedford Regt., s. of Alfred F.... Bell, of Deansgate, Grimsby, by his wife, Sarah Susanna, dau. of John Ockley; b. Grimsby, 10 Dec. 1891; educ. Collegiate, Grimsby, and Alford Grammar Schools; enlisted in the South Staffordshire Regt. Jan. 1910; was given a commission 20 May, 1914, and transferred to the 2nd Bedfordshire Regt. He was killed by shrapnel at Ypres, 18 Oct. 1914; unm.

BELL, DAVID, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 10813), S.S. 108915, H.M.S. Hawke; lost in action in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914; m.

BELL, FRED, Eng.-Lieut., R.N.R., yr. s. of Samuel Bell, of Abbots Cottage, St. Bees, Cumberland, by his wife, Alice, dau. of Joseph Coulthard; b. St. Bees, 4 Dec. 1889; educ. there. He commenced his career with the Whitehaven Harbour Board under Engineer Wilcox. He was two and a-half years in this employ, and a similar period at Lowca Engineering Works. From there he entered the service of Messrs. Chambers, the Castle Line, Liverpool. After being two years and three months at sea he sat for, and secured, his second engineer’s certificate, and after another couple of years’ service he obtained his Chief Engineer’s certificate. Continuing in the same employ, he was in Liverpool studying for his extra chief certificate on the outbreak of war, but gave up his opportunity to sit for this to take up his commission as Eng.-Lieut. on the armed merchant vessel Viknor, commissioned at Portsmouth 12 Dec. 1914. They sailed just after Christmas, and no further word was heard until Feb. when the Admiralty announced that H.M.S. Viknor, which had been missing for some days, must now be accepted as lost with all officers and men. The cause of her loss is uncertain, but as bodies and wreckage were washed ashore on the north coast of Ireland, it is presumed that during the bad weather she either foundered, or, being carried out of her course, struck a mine in the seas which the Germans are known to have laid there. It is presumed that she was lost off the Irish coast 14 Jan. 1915. Lieut.-Commander Bell was unm. His elder brother, Edward, also received a commission, and was appointed to the armed liner The Duke of Cornwall.

BELL, GEORGE SINCLAIR, Stoker, 1st Class, 308909, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.

BELL, JOHN WILLIAM, R.M.L.I., Ch. 17205, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

BELL, JOSHUA, Private, No. 8643, B Coy., 2nd Battn. The Border Regt., s. of William Joshua Bell, of 170, Conyers Road, Byker, Newcastle-on-Tyne, now employed at Messrs. Armstrong & Whitworth’s Elswick Works; b. Shieldfield, 9 Jan. 1887; educ. Victoria Jubilee Council School, Byker, Newcastle-on-Tyne; enlisted 27 Nov. 1905, and was killed in action at Ypres, 26 Oct. 1914; unm. He had previously been employed by the Newcastle Tramway Co.

BELL, LAURISTON PERCIVAL EDWARD, Private, No. 1527, 16th Battn. (Queen’s Westminster Rifles) London Regt., only s. of the late William Harbutt Bell, Assistant Clerk, C.S., by his wife, Milly (15, Thornfield Road, Shepherd’s Bush), dau. of John Broad, of Stratton, Cornwall; b. Notting Hill, 18 June, 1894; educ. London Orphanage, Watford. Joined the Queen’s Westminster’s 16 March, 1913, volunteered for foreign service with his regt. on the outbreak of war, and was killed in action at Houplines, 27 March, 1915; unm. Buried in the military cemetery in the Rue Emile Zola at Houplines. In a letter of sympathy to his mother, Capt G. H. Lambert, commanding IV. Coy., said: “Your son, Rifleman Bell, was killed in the trenches yesterday morning. It may be a small consolation to you, in your great trouble, to know that he died as he had lived, a true soldier, and in him I have lost one of my good men.”

BELLAIRS, EDWARD DUNSTAN, Private, No. 9255, 2nd Battn. Durham L.I., s. of Everard Dunstan Bellairs, of 4, Paley Street, Sunderland, by his wife, Ellen, dau. of Henry Moon Clark, and grandson of Commander John Henry Bellairs, R.N.; b. Bishopswearmouth, Sunderland, 29 Sept. 1884; educ. Sunderland; enlisted with his brother in 1903, and served eight years in India. On the outbreak of war rejoined, was wounded on 20 Sept. 1914, at the Battle of the Aisne, and d. in the Victoria Hospital at Blackpool, 20 July, 1915; unm. His elder brother, William (see succeeding notice) was killed in the same action, and a 3rd brother, Private H. Bellairs, 7th Durham L.I., was wounded in France 26 May, 1915, and is now (1916) a prisoner in Germany.

BELLAIRS, WILLIAM, Private, No. 9160, 2nd Battn. Durham L.I., eldest s. of Everard Dunstan Bellairs, of 4, Paley Street, Sunderland, &c. (see preceding notice); b. Bishopswearmouth, Sunderland, 16 Feb. 1881; enlisted with his brother in 1903, and served eight years in India. On the outbreak of war rejoined, and was killed at the Battle of the Aisne, 20 Sept, 1914; unm.

BELLAMY, VICTOR SAMUEL, L.-Corpl., No. 9977, 1st Battn. East Kent Regt. (The Buffs), s. of Henry Bellamy, of 33, Park Road, Ashford, Kent; served with Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; d. 8 Nov. 1914, of wounds received in action near Lille.

BELLAS, WILLIAM, Pte., No. 10551, 2nd Battn. Scots Guards; b. Penrith, co. Cumberland, 1874; enlisted 7 Sept. 1914; served with Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action, 16 May, 1915. He m. at Liverpool, 7 Oct. 1899, Margaret (14, Bowles Road, Bootle, Liverpool), dau. of (—) Walters, and had two sons, Francis William, b. 12 July, 1900; and Lancelot John, b. 1 May, 1910.

BELLERBY, TOM, Petty Officer, 187039, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept 1914.

BELLINGER, WILLIAM FREDERICK, Petty Officer, 184317, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

BELLINGHAM, ROGER CHARLES NOEL, Capt., 37th Battery, Royal Field Artillery, 2nd s. of Sir Henry Bellingham, of Castle Bellingham, 4th Bt., H.M. Lieutenant, co. Louth, by his wife, Lady Constance Noel, 2nd dau. of Charles George, 2nd Earl of Gainsborough; b. Wilbury Road, Brighton, 28 April, 1884; educ. Oratory School, Edgbaston, and Royal Military Academy, Woolwich; gazetted 2nd Lieut. — Dec. 1903, and promoted Lieut. 23 Dec. 1906. He retired 26 Oct. 1912, and was placed in the R.F.A. Special Reserve. On 8 Nov. the same year he was appointed A.D.C. to the Lord Lieut. of Ireland (the Marquis of Aberdeen), which position he held until outbreak of war, when he rejoined his regt. on Aug. 5. He went to France with the Expeditionary Force, was specially mentioned in Dispatches [London Gazette, 22 June, 1915], by F.M. Sir John French, for gallant and distinguished service in the field and was found dead in his bed near Ypres, 4 March, 1915, after a week’s hard fighting. He was buried in Dickebush Parish churchyard, three miles from Ypres. When at Woolwich in 1909, Capt. Bellingham wrote the best essay and was specially complimented by the General Commanding in Chief (Brig.-Gen. J. D. Snow), who wrote (21 Feb.): “A well written essay which shows a careful study of the campaign. What is particularly good about the paper, is, that the writer, having selected his principle, on which to write, has stuck to it throughout, and quoted every instance which bears his argument. In writing on Colombey that action was not an ordinary rearguard action. The French had to fight, to gain more considerable time, than is usual in rearguard actions. Lieut. Bellingham is to be congratulated on his paper, and he should develop into a good writer.” He m. at Stabannon, co. Louth, 18 Jan. 1910, Alice Ann, dau. of Richard Naish, of Ballycullen, co. Limerick, and had issue two children: Roger Carroll Patrick Stephen, b. 23 April, 1911, and Constance Catherine Mary Pia, b. 21 Oct. 1912.

BELLINGHAM, THOMAS HENRY, Stoker 1st Class, K. 6334, H.M.S. Hawke; lost in action in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.

BELSTEN, WALTER SIDNEY, Private, No. 1756, 13th (Princess Louise’s Kensington) Battn. The London Regt., s. of William Henry Belsten, of 8, Colville Road, South Acton, by his wife, Sarah Elizabeth, dau. of Henry Jones, of Bristol; b. London, 7 Jan. 1892; educ. Priory School, and Central School, Acton; enlisted the day after the declaration of war, 6 Aug. 1914, went to the Front 4 Nov., came through the Battle of Neuve Chapelle unhurt, and was killed in action at Aubers Ridge at the same time as his only brother (see following notice), 9 May, 1915; unm.

BELSTEN, WILLIAM HENRY, Sergt., No. 2360, 13th (Princess Louise’s) Battn. The London Regt., elder s. of William Henry Belsten (see preceding notice); b. London, 27 Oct 1890; educ. Priory School, Acton, Queen’s Park College, and Islington College; was an Assistant Master at St. Paul’s School, Brentford, but on the outbreak of war enlisted 30 Aug. 1914, went to France 9 Feb. 1915, came through the Battle of Neuve Chapelle unhurt, and was promoted sergt., and was killed in action at Aubers Ridge, near Neuve Chapelle, at the same time as his only brother, 9 May, 1915; unm. He was Superintendent of the Sunday school, Acton, and a credence table was placed to his memory at St. Cuthbert’s Mission Church, Acton.

BENDING, GEORGE JESSE, Third Writer, M. 5284, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

BENDYSHE, RICHARD NELSON, Major and Brevet Lieut.-Col., Royal Marine Light Infantry, eldest s. of the late Nelson Bendyshe, by his wife; Charlotte, yst. dau. of Capt. Henry Brodrick, 29th Regt., and grandson of John Bendyshe, of Barrington Hall, co. Cambridge, J.P., Lieut. R.N., by his wife, Catherine, eldest dau. of George Matcham, of Ashfield Lodge, co. Sussex, and Catherine, his wife, sister of the great Lord Nelson; b. Woodstock, Ontario, 18 Jan. 1866; educ. King’s School, Canterbury; joined the Marines, became Lieut. 1 Sept. 1885, Capt. 1 April, 1895, Major 1 Feb. 1903, Brevet Lieut.-Col. 1 Feb. 1910; was Assistant Instructor of Musketry, Chatham Division Royal Marines, in 1895; Adjutant to Plymouth Division, 1896–1901; Staff Officer, Chatham Division, 1902–06; and retired 1 July, 1910. At the outbreak of the war Major Bendyshe took charge of the wireless station at .... but applied to join the Marines Brigade; was appointed to the Deal battn., and went to Antwerp at the time of the siege. He was killed in action, 1 May, 1915, in the Dardanelles at Gebe Tebe whilst in command of the Deal battn. He m. at Berkesbourne, Canterbury, 15 Aug. 1893, Eleanor Margaret (Barrington Hall, Cambridge), dau. of the Rev. Henry John Wardell, Vicar of Berkesbourne, and had two children: John Nelson, Lieut. Worcestershire Regt., b. 29 July, 1894; and Margaret Charlotte, b. 1 Nov. 1900. In Sept. 1914, Major Bendyshe succeeded his uncle in the Barrington Hall estate, which has been the seat of the family since the reign of Edward III, and was succeeded in possession of it by his only son.

BENHAM, JOHN PERCY, Sergt., No. 48, No. 1 Coy., Princess Patricia’s L.I.; eldest s. of the late John Benham, Iron Founder, by his wife, Helen Louisa (99, Warwick Gardens, Earl’s Court, S.W.), dau. of John Jay; b. Earl’s Court, 6 Dec. 1872; educ. in Salisbury; served as a volunteer in the South African war, and on 5 Aug. 1914, while out in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, enlisted in Princess Patricia’s L.I. He was wounded in March, 1915, being shot in the arm, and lay in hospital in Boulogne for six weeks; then returned to his company, and was killed on the north-west side of the Bellewarde Lake, about 500 yards north-west of Hooge, 8 May, 1915; unm. Sergt. Benham had a good knowledge of French, and a comrade wrote: “Your son was held in great respect and his quiet cheerfulness was much appreciated by those who came in contact with him. He was very popular not only in No. 1 Coy. but in the whole battn.”

BENHAM, JOHN RUSSELL, 2nd Lieut., 100th Battery, Royal Field Artillery, only s. of the late Edwin Arthur Russell Benham, of Colombo, Ceylon, Tea Planter and Tea Merchant, by his wife, Grizzet Hamilton (of Glenlinden, Colinton, Midlothian), elder dau. of the late John Leveson Douglas, of Glenogil, Forfarshire; b. Colombo, 19 Sept. 1895; educ. Mr. Perkin’s, Matfield Grange, Paddock Wood, Rugby and Woolwich. He was gazetted 2nd Lieut. 17 Nov. 1914, and went to France with the 28th Divisional Ammunition Column on 16 Jan. 1915, and was immediately posted to the 100th Battery. Later he served for a short time with G Battery, R.H.A., and then returned to his own. He died of wounds received in action near Ypres, 4 May, 1915; unm. His commanding officer wrote: “... that, through the most trying times he proved himself a soldier for all his youth.”

BENNETT, ALBERT EDWARD, Ship’s Corpl., 1st Class, 178486, H.M.S. Hawke; lost in action in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.

BENNETT, ERNEST HENRY, Petty Officer, 193860, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

BENNETT, FRANK HENRY, Corpl., R.M.L.I., Ch. 12196, H.M.S. Hawke; lost in action in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914; m.

BENNETT, FREDERICK BENJAMIN, Private, No. 1115, 1/5th Battn. (London Rifle Brigade) The London Regt. (T.F.), only s. of Benjamin Bennett, of 17, Airlie Gardens, Ilford, Clerk, by his wife, Alice Eliza, dau. of William Hudson, of Dalston, N.E.; b. Leyton, co. Essex, 16 June, 1896; educ. Cleveland Road Council School, Ilford, and St. George’s College, London; entered H.M. Customs as a boy clerk after competitive examination, remaining until he reached the age limit of eighteen, and was preparing for the Second Division Civil Service when war broke out. He had served a year and eight months in the Civil Service Cadets, and after passing his examination joined the London Rifle Brigade in Oct. and was picked for the drafts for the 1st Battn. at the end of Jan. He had been at the Front scarcely three weeks when, about 1 a.m. on 12 March, 1915, he was mortally wounded while on sentry duty in the trenches at Ploegsteert Woods. The Sergt. of his platoon wrote: “Your son was in my platoon and was on sentry duty in the trench on the night of the 11th-12th. At about 1 a.m. a star light was sent up by the enemy over his trench, followed immediately by a volley. Unfortunately one of the shots struck your son on the left side of the head level with the left eye. He was picked up at once and sent to the field ambulance without any delay. The wound was a very severe one, and he died the following morning about 11 a.m.... He was a fine manly chap and did his duty with the best.” He was a server at St. Clement’s Parish Church, Ilford, and was for some time secretary of the Young Men’s Guild.

BENNETT, GEORGE, Private, R.M.L.I. (R.F.R., B. 838), H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

BENNETT, HUGH DONALD, Lieut., Royal Naval Reserve, H.M.S. Cressy, 4th s. of the late George Bennett, of Little Rissington, Gloucestershire, by his wife, Eliza Laura (now wife of Col. F. Stringer, of the Old Mansion, Bredon, Tewkesbury), dau. of Nathan Dyer; b. Bredon, 21 May, 1877; educ. Dean Close School, Cheltenham, and H.M.S. Conway, training ship, Birkenhead. Joined the P. & O. Steam Navigation Company and Royal Naval Reserve, 23 July, 1897; served as 5th officer, s.s. Carthage (23 July, 1897), and Oriental (10 Aug. 1897); 4th officer, s.s. Ceylon (28 Oct. 1897); 5th officer, s.s. Oriental (8 Nov. 1897); and Himalaya (10 Nov 1897); 4th officer, s.s. Sumatra (8 March, 1898), and Australia (30 Sept. 1898); 3rd officer, s.s. Australia (30 Jan. 1899), Oriental (19 Feb. 1900), Britannia (15 Jan. 1901); 2nd officer, s.s. Britannia (19 Sept. 1901–13 June, 1902), Plassy (2 Sept. 1904–13 April, 1905), Dock staff (23 Feb. 1907), Sumatra (4 July, 1907), Marmora (28 Sept. 1908–10 Oct. 1910); Chief Officer, s.s. Palma (21 June, 1911–3 Aug. 1914), being twice (21 May–10 June, 1913 and 14 July–3 Aug. 1914) Acting Commander. Called up on mobilization, 3 Aug. 1914, and appointed to H.M.S. Cressy. He was lost in the North Sea when that ship was torpedoed, 22 Sept. 1914; unm.