This site commemorates the men and women of Collingham, Linton and Micklethwaite who served during World War 1.
Beaumont, John Beecroft
(1888-1969)
 

Rank and Unit at End of World War One

Rank Lieutenant

Service Army

Battalion Northern Signal Coy

Regiment Royal Engineers

Buried Leeds

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 on printed lists of villagers in The Wetherby News or Collingham Parish Magazine
  • 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

John Beecroft Beaumont was born in Pudsey on the 22nd June 1888, the elder son of James and Annie (nee Beecroft) Beaumont.

John studied as a solicitor and from 1911 to 1913 was a member of the Officer Training Corps at the University of Leeds.

Service record

John was was listed in the Collingham Parish magazine in Dec 1914, and January and February 1915 as one of the early recruits to serve. He was mobilised in August 1914 as a 2nd Lieut. in the Northern Signal Companies, Royal Engineers.

This unit had been known as the 2nd West Yorkshire Royal Engineers (Volunteers) and consisted of an Airline Company, a Cable Company, and a Wireless Company. When war was declared the Northern Signals Companies at once volunteered for active service and went to its war station at Biggleswade. After that they were split into units of different sizes and were drafted overseas as their services were required. The companies, at the same time, were expanded into a Training Centre called the Northern Signal Companies Training Centre.

When the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force was formed, the Northern Signals Companies were asked to form the GHQ Signal Company, consisting of Airline, Cable and Wireless Sections and the HQ personnel. This unit embarked for Gallipoli in March 1915. Later other officers, namely Major WA Scott, Capt W Boyle, Capt RI Denham and Lieut J. B. Beaumont. John Beaumont himself served in Egypt from the 28th April 1915. The GHQ Signal Company served throughout the war in Gallipoli, Egypt and Palestine. In June 1916 John was promoted to Lieutenant and he served throughout the war in Egypt, Palestine and Syria in 5 Signal Section.

John's brother Harold also served in The Great War

After the war

After the war, John joined his father's law firm at Beaumont & Son, 21 Bond St, Leeds. He appears on the electoral roll for Collingham from 1919 until 1921, and he then moved to Briardene, Thorner around that time. John's Banns of Marriage were read at Collingham on the 20th and 27th March and the 3rd April 1921 and he married Muriel Darbyshire in 1921. John and Muriel continued living in Thorner at Briardene for a number of years, appearing on electoral rolls through the rest of the 1920's and until 1930. We then lose track of him until the 1939 National Registration when we find John and Muriel at 4 Hollin Lane, Headingley, Leeds. John was a solicitor and a special constable.

John Beecroft Beaumont, of 51 St. Chad's Drive, Headingley, died on the 1st June 1969.

Biography last updated 23 February 2021 14:40:51.


Sources

1911 Census. The National Archives. Class RG14 Piece 25962
The Collingham Parish Magazine Dec 1914, Jan 1915, & Feb 1915
First World War Medal Index Cards. The National Archives (WO372).
First World War Medal Index Rolls. The National Archives (WO329).
First World War Officer's Service Records WO339/24696 The National Archives.

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