Today | News | Books | Recipes Adventure | Science Fiction | Ghost stories | Poetry | Children | History Book685, 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. [Illustration: =Francis Hugh Beaufort.=] =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." [Illustration: =Ostcliffe H. Beaufort.=] =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, Cambrid |