This site commemorates the men and women of Collingham, Linton and Micklethwaite who served during World War 1.
Beaumont, Harold Beecroft
(1897-1970)
 

Rank and Unit at End of World War One

Rank Lieutenant

Service Army

Battalion 5th Battalion

Regiment Border Regiment

Buried Cuckfield, Sussex

Pre-war Occupation*/marital status**

Trade or Occupation pre-war: Solicitor
Marital status: Single


* Taken from attestation papers or 1911 census
** Marital status on enlistment or at start of war
Connection with Collingham, Linton or Micklethwaite and reason for inclusion on this web site
  • Named as an Absent Voter due to Naval or Military Service on the 1918 or 1919 Absent Voter list for Collingham, Linton or Micklethwaite

Biography

Family background

Harold (sometimes Harald) Beecroft Beaumont was born at 4 Beech Grove Terrace, Leeds on the 3rd May 1897, the younger son of James and Annie (nee Beecroft) Beaumont. He was educated at St. Bees School in Cumberland from 1910-1915, and was at the school aged 13 on census day in 1911. He was a member of the Old St. Beghians' Club.

Service record

Harold volunteered in 1915 and was commissioned in the Border Regiment. He served in the 5th Battalion. A war diary list shows that Harold joined the Battalion in France on the 11th May 1916.

In 1917 Harold was mentioned in despatches:

Wetherby News 12 Jan 1917

Collingham Young Soldier Mentioned in Despatches
Sec.-Lieut. Harold Beecroft Beaumont, of the Border Regiment, whose name was mentioned in Field-Marshal Haig's despatch, is 19 years of age, and the younger son of Mr. James Beaumont (Beaumont and Son, solicitors, Leeds), and of Mrs. Beaumont, Collingham Bridge. He was educated at St.Bees School, Cumberland, where he was head of the school and senior sergeant of the O.T.C. On leaving school in the autumn of 1915, he volunteered for service, and in December of the same year received a commission in the Border Regiment. He has been on active service in France since last May. Mr. Beaumont's other son, Mr. John B. Beaumont, who is his partner in the firm, is a lieutenant of the Royal Engineers, and has been in Egypt since April, 1915.

 

On the 13th April 1918, the family received bad news - Harold was posted as missing, as reported in the Leeds Mercury.

The Leeds Mercury 13 April 1918

OFFICERS' CASUALTIES
Lieutenant H. B. Beaumont, Border Regiment, the younger son of Mr. and Mrs. Beaumont, of Collingham, near Leeds, is missing.

 

However, Harold had in fact been taken prisoner of war. At that stage he was serving with 66th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps, and was taken Prisoner of War on 21 March 1918. The Wetherby News reported:

Wetherby News 19 April 1918

COLLINGHAM
Lieut. H.B. Beaumont, Border Regiment, the younger son of Mr. and Mrs. Beaumont of Collingham, has been missing since March 30th. He was educated at St. Bees School, and is nearly 21 years of age. He has been at the Front almost two years. His elder brother, Lieut. John Beecroft Beaumont, a partner in the firm of Beaumont and Sons, solicitors, Bond Street, Leeds, has also been serving since the commencement of the war, and for over three years has been in Egypt as a wireless signalling officer. Mr. and Mrs. Beaumont have received from the Red Cross Society a report to the effect that Lieut. Harald Beecroft Beaumont is a prisoner of war, though the Society has not yet received any news of the Camp where he may now be a prisoner.

 

At the end of the war, Harold was repatriated on the 18th December 1918.

After the war

Harold returned to the UK after the war. We believe Harold married Monica Beaumont in 1925 in Leeds and the following year their son, William Beecroft Beaumont was born in Leeds. On the 3rd June 1925 Harold applied for the medals due to him for his service and gave his address as Little Preston Farm, Woodlesford, Near Leeds. Later the family moved to Gloucestershire and in 1939, at the time of the National Registration that year, they were living at Steepholme, Charlton Kings, Gloucestershire. Harold is listed as being an Air Raid Warden.

We believe that Harold may also have served in the Army during World War 2. On the 8th February 1944, the London Gazette records the commissioning of Harold Beecroft Beaumont as a 2nd Lieutenant in The Gloucestershire Regiment. It also seems likely that Harold stayed in the Army for some time after the second war, as a London Gazette announcement dated 29th September 1947 also lists that Harold Beecroft Beaumont has a position as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Gloucestershire Regiment.

Harold died in 1970 and is buried in Cuckfield, Sussex.

Biography last updated 15 July 2020 12:32:41.

Sources

1911 Census. The National Archives. Class RG14 Piece 31526
The Wetherby News 12/1/1917 & 19/4/1918
The Collingham Parish Magazine Feb 1915
First World War Medal Index Cards. The National Archives (WO372).
First World War Medal Index Rolls. The National Archives (WO329).

If you have any photographs or further details about this person we would be pleased to hear from you. Please contact us via: alan.berry@collinghamanddistrictwararchive.info