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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment
Gnr. Frederick G. Bevis
British Army Royal Horse Artillery
from:Dublin
(d.13th Sep 1916)
Frederick G. Bevis lived in Dublin where he attended Mountjoy School. He enlisted in London, serving in the Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery. He died of wounds in July 1916.
Lt. Reginald Charles Hope "Roy" Bewes
Royal Flying Corps 7 Squadron
from:Plymouth
(d.23rd May 1915)
Reginald Charles Hope Bewes was my great uncle. Known as Roy within the family, he was educated at Clifton College (South Town and Smiths House) in Bristol, and at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. He joined the 1st Battalion King's (Liverpool) Regiment in October 1910, and was promoted to Lieutenant on 11 September 1913. At the outbreak of the 1914 - 1918 War, Roy was seconded for service with the Royal Flying Corps, and appointed Flying Officer in the RFC on 6th of August 1914. He served in France from September 1914 until 27 December 1914, and then had seven weeks sick leave. He then joined No 7 Squadron at Netheravon, and flew from Folkestone to St Omer on 9 April 1915.
As a Lieutenant at the age of 24, he was killed when on reconnaissance duty, along with his observer Lt Frederick Hunter Hyland, on Pentecost Sunday, 23 May 1915, his RE-5 falling at Vieux Berquin in France, where he was buried in the village cemetery. He had gained for himself a first-class reputation for gallantry in the air. One of his enterprises in dropping bombs on St Andre Station, near Lille, was particularly meritorious. At the time of his death he was engaged to be married. His name is recorded in the War Memorial Arch at Clifton College.
My wife, Nicola, and I visited Roy's grave on the centenary of his death, I paid for a pair of RFC wreaths from the British Legion and we took them over. Roy's observer, 2nd Lt Frederick Hunter Hyland, who was 23, from the Yorkshire Regiment, was also killed in the crash. I would guess that the relationship between pilot and observer would have necessarily been close and it seemed fitting that we should remember them both, so we laid wreaths on the two graves, which are beside one another. We were met at the main church of Vieux-Berquin (which was bombed by the British in WWII, though only because it was being used by the Germans at the time). Our reception party was 3-4 councillors from the town council of Vieux-Berquin, about a dozen or more members of Histoire Locale de Vieux-Berquin and about half a dozen veterans from the local veterans association including two flag bearers, plus the President of the French equivalent of the British Legion. Finally, to round it all off, there was a local journalist. At the cemetery, I laid a wreath on Roy's grave and Nicola laid the other on Frederick Hyland's. I then spoke for about 5 minutes - why we thought it was important to come over on that particular day, an explanation of the poppies (the French use a different flower) and an explanation of why they each had a Regimental name as well as RFC. Gerard Pique (retired English teacher) was thankfully there to translate. When I explained how moved we were that so many people turned up when all we were expecting was someone to unlock the gate, Gerard replied for them all that they were all still very appreciative of the sacrifice Roy and his observer made in the defence of France. He later explained that they honour all the war graves every 11th November, just like we do. Gerard's brother-in-law, Bernard Roussel, then suggested a minute's silence, which we then observed. We then repaired to the local municipal centre near the church where a presentation took place, comprising some words of welcome from the deputy mayor and a presentation of the historical society's research. In it, he explained the context in which the crash took place (the stage of aeronautical development, the dispositions of the allied and enemy forces, where Roy would have been flying from etc), plus what was known about Roy.
He explained that there are actually Three accounts of how the crash happened: The first, described as a school of thought in the only source we know of, suggests it is a theory and not much more than that, this is the one that says it was a grenade on board that exploded. The second was from a French Army interpreter, who was working with the British; his account was the one about the pure white smoke of British Artillery; this fits with the positions of opposing artillery at the time and also with the observed circles the plane flew in as it came down. Also, it was an interpreter's job to pay attention to detail, so this is probably the most likely explanation and might account for why a school of thought came up with the grenade idea. The third was the one given in the local paper Le Cri Des Flandres, namely, engine failure, this does not fit with a plane circling down as a pilot's instinct would be to dive to achieve some speed before gliding to a field to land. We were given copies of the research in French and English, a book of the history of Vieux-Berquin and one of the two remaining copies of Le Cri Des Flandres of 30th May, with the report of the crash highlighted.
Bernard Roussel, who had done much of the research, then drove us to Le Pont Rondin. The plane came down close to this bridge. Bernard, his sister Cecile and her husband Gerard then took us both for a late but very nice lunch at a restaurant in Hazebrouck.
Pte. F. Bewick
British Army 24th (Tyneside Irish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
from:Easington
Pte. John Bewley
British Army Border Regiment
(d.19th May 1917)
John Bewley was born in 1898 and lived at 16, High Road, Cleator Moor, Cumberland. He was my great uncle, and served with the Border Regiment. But as my grandfather died in 1952 (aged 52) before I was born the family has no record of where John might be buried, the battle he fought in (was it Bullecourt?), or any details. All I know is that he died on 19th May 1917. Any help as to where to find out his military record would be most helpful.
Pte. William Samuel Bews
British Army 2nd Battalion Welsh Regiment
from:London
(d.23rd November 1914)
Pte. Albert Edward Bexfield
Army Durham Light Infantry
(d.3rd May 1917)
Pte. Arthur Bexon
British Army 10th (Service) Btn. Cheshire Regiment
from:Loughborough
(d.1st Aug 1917)
Arthur Bexon served with the 10th Btn. Cheshire Regiment.
Pte. Ernest William Beynon
British Army 17th Battalion Welch Regiment
from:Neath
(d.24th April 1917)
L/Sea Walter James Beynon
Royal Navy HMS India
from:Ipswich
(d.2nd November 1918)
Leading Seaman Beynon was the Son of Emily Beynon, and the late William Beynon; husband of Florence Mary Beynon, of "Heathlands," Foxhall Rd., Ipswich. Born at Shanklin. Isle of Wight.
He was 38 when he died and is buried in the Faberg Churchyard in Norway
L/Cpl. William Hayden Beynon
British Army 11th Btn. Manchester Regiment
from:Swansea
(d.5th Oct 1918)
Albert Edward Bezant
British Army Durham Light Infantry
My grandfather, Albert Edward Bezant (1879-1927) served with the Durham Light Infantry in World War One. He is marked by the "ex's" in ball point pen in both photos.
Pte. William George Bezley
British Army 1/7th Btn. London Regiment
from:Earls Court, London
(d.10th Apr 1917)
Private William Bezley 350096, was in a trench beside my grandfather, Charles Digby Planck (compiler of The History of the Shiny Seventh) in the area known as The Spoilbank, beside the Ypres-Comines Canal, on 10th April 1917, when he was accidentally shot and killed when another soldier dropped then caught his rifle. The accident is noted on Page 109 of "The History of the Shiny Seventh" (Original hard back version.) Pte. Bezley was 20 years old, from 41 Kenway Road,Earls Court, London, and is buried at Chester Farm Cemetery near Ypres.
I would like to commemorate in some way the centenary of Bezley's tragic death which of course will fall on 10th April 2017, and am trying to trace any living relatives. William Bezley had a sister Edith May Bezley (1898-1976), who I think may have married Arthur W Mann in 1933 at Camberwell, when she would have been about 35. William also had a number of uncles and aunts: George W Bezley (1864-1938), Mary A (b. 1866), Edward (1876-1943), Elizabeth (1878-1961) and Arthur (1881-1963). I would be grateful for any help with this enquiry.
Pte. G. Bezuidenhout
South African Forces Graaff-Reinet Commando
from:Aberdeen, Cape Province
(d.13th February 1915)
Private Bezuidenhout was the Son of Mr. W. F. and Mrs. C. F. Bezuidenhout, of Bell St., Aberdeen, Cape Province.
He was 21 and is buried in the Graaff-Reinet Old Cemetery, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Dvr. Henry Bibbins MM.
British Army 27th Battery Royal Field Artillery
from:West Ham
My grandfather Henry Bibbins served as a Driver with 27th Battery RFA and was shipped to France in 1915 as I think his regiment was held back in case of a German invasion. He served in many campaigns according to the records including The Somme and Paschendale. He was awarded the Military Medal at Cambrai. I have the page of the war diary for that period. Being a very modest man he would never mention the war and would not be involved in any discussions. I have a letter asking if he would like an official presentation of the MM but preferred it to be delivered by registered post. Now here is the irony of the story. When he received the medal he placed the citation in the fire and refused to discuss it. I think he wondered why he had been awarded the medal as he had seen so much bravery and why some of his compatriots had been overlooked. Sad to say his Royal Artillery records were destroyed in WW2 bombing raid. Any more info would be appreciated.
A/Sgt.Mjr. Joseph William Bibby CdeG.
British Army 12th Btn. Yorkshire Regiment
from:Hull, East Yorkshire
(d.28th June 1918)
Pte. Samuel Bibby
British Army 8th Btn. King's Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment
from:Dublin
(d.13th Nov 1916)
Samuel Bibby was the son of Mrs. M. J. Bibby, of 26 Hardwicke St., Dublin. He served with the King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment and was killed in action at the Somme in November 1916. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.
2nd Lt. Geoffrey Roskell Bible
British Army 101st Company Machine Gun Corps
from:Dublin
(d.1st Jul 1916)
Geoffrey Roskell Bible was the son of Henry Bible and Lucinda Bible, of 50 Grosvenor Rd., Rathmines, Co. Dublin. He enlisted in September 1914 with the 7th Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers. and was gazetted to the 9th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, in November 1914.
He was killed in action at Battle of the Somme in July 1916 aged 23. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.
Pte. Albert Charles Bick
British Army 8 Btn. West Surrey Regiment
from:Lambeth
(d.25th Sep 1915)
Albert Charles Bick was born in Battersea and lived in Lambeth. He was married to my grandfather's sister Anne. Albert enlisted in the Queens Royal West Surrey Regiment. His death certificate states his date of death as the 25-09-1915 (underneath in brackets is wrote the word presumed) The last box on the death certificate states how died it has got not known. War records simply state 'Killed in Action. He is commemorated in Loos Memorial Cemetery. When I visited the first war battlefields and cemeteries, I was told by our guide that if someone was killed and their body not found, they did not have a headstone. Their name was carved on a memorial.
Pte. Albert Charles Bick
British Army Queens Royal West Surrey Regiment
from:Battersea
(d.25th Sep 1915 )
Albert Charles Bock was married to my grandfather's youngest sister, Annie Noulton. He served in the Queens Royal West Surrey Regiment. His death certificate gives his date of death as 25th September 1915 but underneath in brackets is written 'presumed' in the box which gives the cause of death is written not known, I must assume that his body was not recovered and possibly still lies where he fell he is commemorated at the Loos Memorial. May he rest in peace. I don't think his wife ever remarried and died in her early eighties in the 1960's.
Pte. Gilbert Walter Bick
British Army 5th Battalion Wiltshire Regiment
from:Olton
(d.10th Aug 1915)
Gilbert Bick's body was never found. His name appears on the memorial plaque at Helles, in Olton Church and at Alvechurch church. His brother was made to enlist after he died.
Pte. Claude Thomas Bicker
British Army Kings Liverpool Regiment
from:Aintree, Liverpool
(d.1st June 1917)
Claude Bicker was born in Carlisle, Cumbria in 1895. He initially enlisted in the Kings Liverpool Regiment on 11th of January 1915 aged 20. His battalion left Formby in July 1916 for France. Sometime around August 1916 he was transferred to the 8th Battalion of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment under the new service number 29979. On 1st of July 1917, Claude was killed whilst attached to the Machine Gun Corps aged 22. I believe he was attached to the 7th Coy. Machine Gun Corps when he died. Their War Diary confirmed that they were in the Wolverghem sector and that three men were killed and two were wounded at North Midland Farm.
Pte. Henry Hill Bicker
British Army 19th Btn. Durham Light Infantry
from:Dunston-on-Tyne, Durham,
(d.31st Oct 1918)
My Great Great Uncle Henry I found during my family research and he was originaly born in South Shields Durham 1884. He was the son of Robert and Sarah Bicker formerly Hill. I don't know a great deal about my uncle apart from what I have found in the census. However, one other thing I found was the fact that my mother bears the names of my uncle's wife Olive. This was nice to find.
My uncle died during the Western European Theatre and was killed in action on 31.10.1918 aged 31 years of age. He left behind a wife and three children all aged under 10 years of age. My Uncle lies buried in the British Military Cematary of Vichte Belgium.
This is all that I know about my ancestor, but I did march in the centre of Newcastle Upon Tyne on the 11th November with my recently awarded Queen Elizabeth's Golden Jubilee Medal upon my court dress. It was awarded to me by the Coastwatcth Organisation for my Voluntary Work as a Coastwatch Volunteer with the National Coastwatch. I marched with pride for my Great Great Uncle and all those other loved ones out there who have served theirs and my country.
Pte. Bickerton
British Army Essex Regiment
Private Bickerton was a POW at two POW camps, Freiburg and Baden.
Pte. John Bickle
British Army 1st Btn. Lancashire Fusiliers
from:Burnley, Lancashire
(d.9th June 1915)
John Bickle died on 9th June 1915, in Malta from wounds received at Gallipoli, aged 42. He is buried in Pieta Military Cemetery in Malta. He lived at 34 Caldervale Rd, Burnley, Lancashire.
Pte. John Bickle
British Army 1st Btn. Lancashire Fusiliers
from:34 Caldervale Road, Burnley, Lancashire
(d.9th June 1915)
John Bickle died, age 42, in Malta from wounds received at Gallipoli, and is buried in the Pieta Military Cemetery in Malta.
Pte. Thomas Bickle
British Army 9th Btn. Devonshire Regiment
from:Liddaton
(d.26th Oct 1917)
Information has been difficult to find as there are no official records remaining, having gone up in the Blitz in WW2. From what I can find Thomas Bickle died from his wounds in the field hospital at Lijssenthoek on the 26th October 1917 and is buried in the nearby cemetery.
During the 7th October, 9th Devons were part of 7th Division's supporting the ANZAC's attack on Broodseinde Ridge, starting on the left flank of Polygon Wood. I can only imagine that Thomas was injured at some stage of the battle and was evacuated eventually to Lijssenthoek.
He was one of 5 sons, his brother Albert was killed in Mesopotamia and is commemorated on the Tehran War Memorial as he has no known grave. My mother said that her great grandfather had both their names inscribed on his shaving mirror so that he would always be reminded of them.
Gnr. Arthur John Bicknell
British Army 51st Seige Battery Royal Garrison Artilley
from:112 Avon Street, Warwick
(d.30th Sep 1916)
I am just at the beginning of finding out about my great grand father, Arthur Bicknell but I know he died when my grandmother was only three years old and that he was buried in the Bernafay Wood British Cemetery, Somme, France. He is also commemorated on the All Saints Church War Memorial Warwick and the All Saints School Roll of Honour, Warwick.
Rflmn. Harold Bicknell
British Army 13th Btn. King's Royal Rifle Corps
from:Nottingham
(d.19th November 1916)
Harold Bicknell was my great uncle. He died of wounds, possibly suffered at the Battle of Morval (Somme) in September 1916. He was 23.
Pte John Henry Biddis
British Army 6th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment
from:Great Bromley (Kent)
(d.24th October 1918)
Mjr. Frederick Leslie Biddle
Australian Imperial Force 2nd Field Artillery
from:Australia
(d.17th Aug 1917)
Frederick Leslie Biddle was born on 27 October 1885 and educated at Hawthorne College. He had also matriculated twice at the University of Melbourne and had spent 10 years with the Citizen Militia Force as a gunner. He was promoted to Captain with the CMF on 1 September 1913.
At the time of enlistment on 18 August 1914, he was 28 years old and was working as a warehouseman in East Melbourne. He was assigned to 2nd Field Artillery with the rank of captain and departed Melbourne aboard HMAT Shropshire on 20 October 1914. Biddle served in Egypt and France before being killed in action on 17 August 1917. Frederick Biddle is buried at Brandhoek New Military Cemetery, Belgium.
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