Chapter VII: Part 7

=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._

=BENNETT, JAMES=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 7936), 292894, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=LEIGH-BENNETT, ARTHUR=, D.S.O., M.C., Capt., 2nd Battn. Coldstream Guards, yr. surviving _s._ of the late Henry Currie Leigh-Bennett, of Thorpe Place, co. Surrey, M.P. for the Chertsey Division; _b._ Thorpe Place, 25 Nov. 1885; educ. at Winchester and Sandhurst; gazetted 2nd Lieut. Coldstream Guards, 28 Jan. 1905, and promoted Lieut. 22 Jan. 1907, and Tempy. Capt. 15 Nov. 1914, being continued in the latter rank, 1 Jan. 1915; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from Aug. 1914, to 3 Oct. 1915; was wounded in Nov., and again in May; was twice mentioned in Despatches by F.M. Sir John (now Lord) French (18 Feb. and 11 March, 1915); received the Military Cross for services at the Battle of the Aisne; was awarded the D.S.O. “for conspicuous gallantry, at Cuinchy, on 1 Feb. 1915. Leading his men with great ability against the enemy, he stopped their advance, and eventually captured their position,” and was killed on the morning of 3 Oct. 1915, when inspecting with his Colonel and other officers some trenches which the Coldstream Guards were taking over that night. Capt. Leigh-Bennett was a member of the Coldstream Guards polo team, and played both cricket and golf for the 2nd Battn. He was _unm._

=BENNETT, THOMAS HENRY=, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 12083, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=BENNETT, VICTOR ERNEST EDWARD=, Private, R.M.L.I., Ch. 18396, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=BENNETT, WILLIAM HENRY HESP=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 1192), 194125, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=BENNION, REGINALD WALLEY=, Third Writer, M. 7687, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=BENSON, HUGH CECIL=, Lieut., 9th Battn. The Rifle Brigade, elder _s._ of Cecil Benson, of 35, Bedford Square, W.C., by his wife, Constance, dau. of George Bernard O’Neill; _b._ at 16, Young Street, Kensington Square, W., 3 July, 1883; was educ. at Eton, and afterwards became an Architect. On the declaration of war he volunteered for Imperial Service, and was given a commission in the Rifle Brigade, 30 Dec. 1914. He went to the Western Front with his regt., 20 May, 1915, and was killed in action at Hooge, near Ypres, 22 June following; _unm._

=BENSON, JOHN PENRICE=, Capt., 1st Battn. East Surrey Regt., eldest _s._ of William Denman Benson, of 10, William Street, Knightsbridge, County Court Judge, LL.D., J.P., by his wife, Jane, dau. of Thomas Penrice, D.L., and nephew of Lieut.-Col. R. E. Benson, who died of wounds, 27 Sept. 1914 (see following notice); _b._ Kilvrough, co. Glamorgan, 1 Oct. 1877; educ. Charterhouse and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst; gazetted 2nd Lieut. 16 Feb. 1898, and promoted Lieut. 24 Feb. 1900, and Capt. 8 Oct. 1904; served in the South African War, 1899–1902; took part in the relief of Ladysmith, including action at Colenso; operations of 17 to 24 Jan. 1900, and action at Spion Kop; operations of 5 to 7 Feb. 1900, and action at Vaal Kranz, and operations on Tugela Heights (wounded 23 Feb. 1900); operations in Natal, March to June, 1900, including action at Laings Nek; operations in the Transvaal, 30 Nov. to 31 May, 1902, including those in the Orange River Colony in May, 1901 (Queen’s medal with five clasps and King’s medal with two clasps); afterwards going to India with his regt. He was Adjutant of his Battn., 10 Sept. 1902, to 31 May, 1905. and of Militia and Special Reserve Battn., 15 April, 1907, to Feb. 1913, when he went on half-pay. On the declaration of war, 4 Aug. 1914, he immediately rejoined, was given his company, and went to France on 12 Aug. He proceeded with his regt. to La Cateau, and then to the defence of the Condé Canal, where he was shot through the lower part of the body by a machine gun on the 25th, and died in the Convent School at Boussu, Belgium, the following day, 26 Aug. 1914. He was buried in the Convent School grounds. He _m._ at St. Stephen’s, Gloucester Road, S.W., Laura Annette, 2nd dau. of Major-Gen. Francis Goring Rideout, and had issue a son and dau.: William Frank Montague, _b._ 7 Oct. 1907, and Jane Penrice, _b._ 2 Jan. 1915.

=BENSON, RICHARD ERLE=, Lieut-Col., 1st Battn. East Yorkshire Regt., 4th _s._ of the late General Henry Roxby Benson, C.B., 17th Lancers (who served through the Crimean War and Indian Mutiny), by his wife, Mary Henrietta (Fairy Hill, Reynoldston Gower, co. Glamorgan), dau. of the late Hon. Mr. Justice William Wightman; _b._ London, 4 Oct. 1862; educ. Eton, and for some time served with the East Surrey Militia. He was gazetted Lieut. to the East Yorkshires (the old 15th), 14 May, 1884, and was promoted Capt. 5 Aug. 1891; Major, 15 Aug. 1903; and Lieut.-Col. 15 Aug. 1911. From July, 1889–May, 1890, he was employed with the Bechuanaland Police Force, and in the South African War served as Adjutant to the 4th Battn. of the East Surreys in 1902. He took part in the operations in Cape Colony, April and May that year, and received the King’s medal. On the outbreak of the European war Col. Benson went to the Front with his regt. as part of the Expeditionary Force. The East Yorkshires reached the Aisne on 19 Sept. and the same afternoon were ordered to relieve the Sussex Regt. in trenches which were being continually shelled. The following day the .... Brigade was ordered to advance against the German positions. The attack was made against a terrific cross-fire of machine guns and shrapnel, as well as a storm of rifle bullet attacks. Col. Benson led the attack with the utmost gallantry, and had, as one of his men afterwards stated, got within 50 yards of the German trenches, when he was shot down. The fighting continued fiercely for nearly an hour, but in spite of the most determined attempts to come to grips with the enemy, the latter could not be dislodged, and the battn. had eventually to retire to its trenches. Col. Benson died of his wounds in St. Nazaire Base Hospital 27 Sept. 1914. His body was brought home and buried in the family vault at Reynoldston, Gower. He _m._ in London, 1905, Janet Florence, dau. of William Armour, and had three children: John, _b._ 1904; Marguerita and Mary. Two of his brothers saw service--Col. S. M. Benson, late 17th Lancers, and Major H. W. Benson, D.S.O., now (1916) commanding officer of the Swansea Battn. of the Welsh Regt.; and a nephew, Capt. John Penrice Benson (son of His Honour Judge Denman Benson), was killed in action, 26 Aug. 1914 (see his notice).

=BENSON, THOMAS BROOKE=, Lieut., 2nd Battn. The Royal Scots Fusiliers, 13th child and 7th and yst. _s._ of the Rev. Riou George Benson, Rector of Hope Bowdler, co. Salop, by his wife, Mary, dau. of Thomas Brooke, of Northgate House, Honley, co. York, and grandson of Moses George Benson, of Lutwyche Hall, co. Salop, J.P., D.L.; _b._ 28 July, 1884; educ. The Well House, Malvern Wells, Repton and Sandhurst, and was gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the 2nd Battn. of the Royal Scots Fusiliers, 16 Aug. 1905. He retired from the Army in 1911 and went to Bogowantalawa, Ceylon, and started tea planting, but on the outbreak of war came home and rejoined his old regt. with the rank he was when he left it ... Oct. 1914. He was twice wounded, and was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle in the early morning of 12 March, 1915; _unm._

=BENSTEAD, CHARLES=, Seaman, R.N.R., 4241A, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=BENSTEAD, EDWARD=, Private, No. 6378, 2nd Battn. Royal West Surrey Regt.; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc., killed in action, 19 Nov. 1914.

=BENT, JOHN=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 43247) S.S. 423, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=BENTLEY, CLARENCE LESLIE=, 2nd Lieut., 2nd Battn Manchester Regt., yst. _s._ of the late Alderman and Sheriff William Bentley, of Fulford Grange, York, J.P., Lord Mayor of York (1907), by his wife, Anne Mary (Fulford Grange, York), dau. of Ewen Cameron, of Fort William, Inverness; _b._ York, 8 Aug. 1894; educ. Mill Hill School, N.W., and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He received his commission in the Manchester Regt. 8 Aug. 1914 (his 20th birthday), and served with the 3rd Battn. on the Humber defences till early in Sept., when he took out a draft for the 2nd Battn. at the front. He was killed in action near Festubert, 29 Oct. 1914, and was buried at La Quinque Rue; _unm._ Lieut. Bentley was a bright and talented youth, and was keen on sport, having won all his school colours. He entered Sandhurst as the 195th cadet, and made such good progress that on leaving after the usual course he passed 55th in the 1st Division, and also won his blue for hockey. While serving with the Expeditionary Force he saw a great deal of heavy fighting, and the Captain of his company, in speaking of him, said how much he felt his loss, as he was of such an exceptional and outstanding character. His brother, Lieut. Ronald Cameron Bentley, Green Howards (2nd Battn. Yorkshire Regt.) joined the Expeditionary Force in 1915, and is still (1916) on active service. His eldest brother, Capt. W. W. Bentley, returned from Ceylon, where he held an appointment under Government, early in 1915. He rejoined the Heavy Artillery, in which he had a commission, and is now serving with the Expeditionary Force as Capt. and Adjutant.

=BENTLEY, FREELAND MARTELL=, Lieut., 3rd Battn. Gordon Highlanders, _s._ of Capt. Thomas Kellor Bentley, of Port Greville, Nova Scotia, by his wife, Flora Agusta, dau. of Fraser Hatfield; _b._ Port Greville, 19 May, 1887; joined the Army on the outbreak of war, being given a commission as Lieut., 17th Canadian Infantry (Nova Scotia Regt.), 22 Sept. 1914. He was transferred to the 3rd Battn. Gordon Highlanders, 2 April, 1915, and was killed in action near Festubert, 18 June following. His brother, Capt. Lloyd Omen Bentley, served through the war with the Canadian Field Artillery.

=BENTLEY, GEOFFREY MALCOLM=, Capt., 1st Battn. Northamptonshire Regt., 5th _s._ of Lieut.-Col. Alfred Wilson Bentley, of The Grove, Hadley, Barnet, Herts., J.P., by his wife, Catherine Edith, dau. of John Rogers; _b._ London, 3 May, 1883; educ. Wellington College. He joined the Militia, and served in the South African War, 1900–1, took part in the operations in Cape Colony in 1901, and in the following year was sent for guard duty to St. Helena when the Boer prisoners were quartered there, receiving the Queen’s medal with two clasps. On 28 Jan. 1903 he was gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the 2nd Battn. Northamptonshire Regt., served in India, and was promoted Lieut. 3 Dec. 1904, and Capt. 7 May, 1910, when he joined the 1st Battn. at Aden. He was afterwards stationed at Devonport and Blackdown. On the outbreak of the European War he went to the front with the Expeditionary Force, and was shot through the head by a sniper in leaving a trench immediately after the Battle of Pilkem, 24 Oct. 1914. He died at Ypres 29 Oct. following without recovering consciousness, and was buried in the cemetery there. Capt. Bentley was mentioned in Sir John French’s Despatch of 14 Jan. 1915 “for gallant and distinguished service in the field.” He _m._ at Bangor, co. Down, 21 Oct. 1908, Edith Marie, only surviving dau. of William Henry Gallway, of Sheila Von, Bangor, and left a dau., Maureen Sheila, _b._ 29 Aug. 1911.

=BENTLEY, GERALD WILSON=, Major, 4th Battn. The Duke of Cambridge’s Own Middlesex Regt., 3rd _s._ of Lieut.-Col. Alfred Wilson Bentley, of The Grove, Monken Hadley, Middlesex, J.P., by his wife, Catherine Edith, dau. of John Rogers; _b._ at 16, Addison Road, Kensington, 1 Aug. 1879; educ. Haileybury; gazetted 2nd Lieut. Middlesex Regt. from the Militia, 20 May, 1899, and promoted Lieut. 14 March, 1900, Capt. 12 Oct. 1901, and Major, 8 Oct. 1914. He served in the South African War, 1899–1902, taking part in the relief of Ladysmith, including the operations of 17 to 24 Jan. 1900, and action at Spion Kop, in which he was severely wounded, his rifle, struck by a shell, being broken and causing serious injuries to his head. He recovered and was present at the operations on the Tugela Heights (26 to 27 Feb. 1900), and the action at Pieters Hill, and was awarded the Queen’s medal with four clasps and the King’s medal with two clasps. He became Superintendent of Gymnasia in the Northern Command, 23 April, 1912, and held this appointment till the outbreak of war, when he rejoined his regt. He was killed in action at Croix Barbée, 13 Oct. 1914. A noted boxer in the Service, he was in 1910 the heavyweight champion of the Army and Navy. A man of grand physique, those who fought with him in the ring knew of the power of that right punch of his; he was content to submit to punishment while waiting for the chance to score with it.

=BENTLEY, KENNETH HADDON=, Private, No. 3047, 14th Battn. (London Scottish) The London Regt. (T.F.), _s._ of A. Bentley, of Lauriston, Leicester Road, New Barnet; volunteered after the outbreak of war, and joined the London Scottish, 2 Sept 1914; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc. and was killed in action, 12 June, 1915.

=BENTZON, SYDNEY MALCOLM=, Private, No. 411, 15th Battn. Australian Imperial Force; took part in the landing at the Dardanelles, 25 April, 1915; killed in action there the following day.

=BENYON, GODFREY BERKELEY JOHN=, Lieut. Commander, R.N., yr. _s._ of Augustus William Benyon, of Ashe, Windsor, by his wife, Mary Beatrice, dau. of the late William Chambers, of Hafod, co. Cardigan, J.P., D.L.; _b._ 10 Sept. 1883; educ. Temple Grove, East Sheen, Surrey; joined the old Britannia as a naval cadet in May, 1898, became Sub-Lieut. 1903, Lieut. 1905, and Lieut.-Commander June, 1913. He saw foreign service in China and the Cape, and was also with Admiral Fisher in H.M.S. Renown. Being a first-class draughtsman, he specialised in the Navigating Department; was assistant surveyor in H.M.S. Mutine in Bermuda. After the outbreak of war, he was appointed to H.M.S. Good Hope on 17 Aug., and was lost when that ship went down with Admiral Sir Christopher Cradock and his gallant crew in the action off the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914. A memorial window was erected to his memory in All Saints’ Church, Windsor. He _m._ at Marylebone Church, 1 Nov 1911, Beatrice Lindley, dau. of the late Henry Lindley White, and had issue a son and dau., John Lindley, _b._ 23 Dec. 1912, and Elizabeth Hope, _b._ at Bermuda on Christmas Day, 25 Dec. 1914, and christened on board the s.s. Transylvania in mid-Atlantic.

=BÉRARD, CHARLES DELPHIS=, Private, No. 23628, Cyclists Corps, Canadian Expeditionary Force, _s._ of Louis Amedée Bérard, of St. Mathias de Rouville, P. Quebec, Canada, by his wife, Délia, dau. of Joachim Létourneau; _b._ St. Mathias, Rouville co., 9 July, 1892; joined the 85th Montreal Regt. in Aug. 1914; left Quebec with the first Canadian contingent, 30 Sept., and was accidentally killed in England, 2 Dec. 1915; _unm._

=PACK-BERESFORD, CHARLES GEORGE=, Major, 1st Battn. Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regt., 3rd _s._ of Denis William Pack-Beresford. J.P., D.L., of Fenagh House, Bagnalstown, co. Carlow, by his wife, Annette Caroline, only dau. of Robert Clayton Browne, of Browne’s Hill, co. Carlow; _b._ London, 21 Nov. 1869; educ. Wellington College and Sandhurst; gazetted 2nd Lieut. the Queen’s Own, 20 Nov. 1889, became Lieut. 1 Feb. 1893, Capt. 18 Dec. 1899, and Major 21 March, 1908, being Adjutant 1897–1900, an instructor at the R.M.C., Sandhurst, 1903–6, and Major in command of 3rd Battn., Regimental Depôt, Maidstone, 1911–14; served with the Malakand and Buner field force on the North-West Frontier of India, 1897–8, including the action at Landakai, the operations in the Mamund country and Buner, also during the attack and capture of the Tanga Pass (medal with clasps); in the South African War, 1899–1901, including the operations in the Orange Free State, Sept. 1900–July, 1901, and in Cape Colony in Aug. 1901, Sept. to Dec. 1901 (Despatches [London Gazette, 10 Sept. 1901];] Queen’s medal with four clasps); and with the Expeditionary Force in France; killed in action at Wasimes, near Mons, 24 Aug 1914; _unm._

=BERESFORD, WILLIAM=, Private, No. 11113, Royal Scots (Lothian Regt.); served with Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action at Voorstraat, 17 Feb. 1915.

=BERESFORD, WILLIAM=, Private, No. 11787, 2nd Battn. Highland Light Infantry; killed in action, 17 May, 1915.

=BERKELEY, MAURICE KENNETH FITZ-HARDINGE=, Bombardier, 5th Battery, 2nd Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery, 1st Canadian Contingent, only _s._ of Maurice Julian Berkeley, Senior Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court, British Guiana, by his wife, Mary Bruce, dau. of Alleyne Pilgrim Murray; _b._ Barbados, West Indies, 10 Dec. 1893; educ. Bradfield College, Berkshire, and Pembroke College, Cambridge, and on leaving the latter joined the Merchant’s Bank of Canada at Montreal. On the outbreak of war he volunteered as a Gunner, came over with the first Canadian Contingent, was severely wounded in action at Ypres, 27 April, 1915, and died in hospital at Boulogne on 1 May; _unm._

=BERLEIN, CHARLES MAURICE=, Lieut., 5th (Service) Battn. Oxford and Buckingham L.I., eldest _s._ of Julius Berlein, of Cross Oak, Berkhamsted, co. Herts, J.P.; _b._ Kimberley, South Africa, 4 May, 1888; educ. Charterhouse and New College, Oxford (B.A. 1910); was engaged in chemical research, and was in charge of a laboratory, but on the outbreak of war received a commission as temporary Lieut. in the Oxford and Buckingham L.I., 22 Aug. 1914, and fell in action near Hoogh, 16 June, 1915, leading his men through a heavy shrapnel fire, a few paces from the enemy’s trenches; _unm._