CENTENARY COMMEMORATION
OF THE UNVEILING OF THE BEAUMONT
WAR MEMORIAL
The CORPS COLOUR
COLLECT of The CORPS
“O Almighty God, whose co-equal son our Saviour was born of the Virgin Mary and hast inspired men in every age to love and do thy will; we beseech thee thou wouldst keep thy servants of the Beaumont College Officer Training Corps steadfast in the faith, to act for thy greater glory and to live by our motto of Aeterna non Caduca, who livest and reignest, one God, world without end. Amen”.
FORWARD
This publication commemorates the Centenary of the unveiling of the Beaumont War Memorial that took place on the 13th November 1921. Beaumont was a school run by the Order of Jesuits and founded in 1861. It became one of the most important and successful Catholic schools in England. Despite this, it was closed in 1967, considered too small and elitist for the latter part of the 20th century.
The Memorial is considered among the most beautiful in the Country: its design unique and it has its setting within this peaceful park landscape. The natural simplicity unspoilt by practical considerations. It is a listed monument of special architectural interest.
It was designed by two old boys of the school Giles and Adrian Gilbert Scott from a family of famous architects. Giles, was knighted and together with Sir Edward Lutyens were the most famous architects of their day: both were members of the prestigious Order of Merit.
The booklet describes the setting up of the Memorial Fund, the day of unveiling which includes the controversial speech by Lt. General Sir George MacDonogh. Also, a precis of the War Dead, The Poppy and the Military Cross. The Second War is also remembered with an outline of those killed and finally the separate Boer War Memorial which is situated in the old school buildings.
INTRODUCTION
THE REVIEW April 1919
“The price of Peace is paid at last, and of that price Beaumont Boys have paid their share - their full share and no less. Dederunt pretiosa quaeque—they gave, and gave ungrudgingly, the best they had, their lives. And we, their debtors in very truth, cannot accept their sacrifice, and passing, leave their patient heroism unrecorded and their generosity without acknowledgment. Mere self-respect suggests that something should be done, but our gratitude demands only the best.”
THE BEAUMONT COLLEGE WAR MEMORIAL
FUND
President,
THE VERY REV. WILLIAM BODKIN, S.J., RECTOR.
.
Vice-Presidents.
HIS LORDSHIP THE BISHOP OF NOTTINGHAM.
THE EARL OF GRANARD, P.C., K.P., G.C V.O.
SIR HUMPHREY DE TRAFFORD, BART.
LT.-COL. SIR MARK SYKES, BART., MP
SIR JOHN KNILL, BART.
LIEUT.-GEN. SIR G. M. MACDONOGH, K.C.B. K.G.M.G.
Chairman of the Committee.
THE HON MR JUSTICE RUSSELL
THE REVIEW December 1921
The Feast of St. Stanislaus, 13th November, 1921, will stand out as a memorable day in the history of Beaumont, for on that day the War Memorial was unveiled, a memorial which from its very beauty will rank high amongst the various memorials erected throughout the Country. It occupies a magnificent site in the midst of the College lawns with its background of the great trees originally part of Windsor Forest.
It takes the form of a large Greek Cenotaph embodying a Calvary with life size bronze figure, and a large Sarcophagus at the foot of the Cross, on which are inscribed the names of the fallen, surmounted by a cast bronze wreath and crossed swords, A massive stone altar is incorporated for use in Memorial Services, and wing walls with stone seats, and a paved platform extends some 50 feet in length. The total height of the Memorial is 33 feet, and the stone cross with bronze in an arch through which the background of trees can be seen. Ornamental bronze hooks are provided so that evergreen wreaths tied with the College Colours may be hung on suitable anniversaries. The whole Monument is constructed of the finest White Portland stone, many of these weighing over a ton each.
The Memorial was designed by OBs Messrs. G. Gilbert Scott, A.R.A., (later Sir Giles) and A. Gilbert Scott, M.C., The Crucifix figure was modelled by Miss Frances Burlison, whose work at the Royal Academy is well
known. Messrs. Benfield & Loxley of Oxford, were the Contractors for the. stone work and erection. The Bromsgrove Guild of Bromsgrove, Worcester, (who also cast the large bronze Crucifix figure for the High Altar at Westminster Cathedral), were responsible for the bronze work. The bronze letters for the inscriptions were supplied by Messrs. Bainbridge Reynolds of London.
The Following was the Programme for the Ceremony:-
UNVEILING AND BLESSING OF THE BEAUMONT COLLEGE WAR MEMORIAL ON ST. STANISLAUS’ DAY, 13th NOVEMBER, 1921
Order of Procession.
Drums and Pipes of the Irish Guards.
Beaumont College Contingent of the Officers’ Training Corps.
LT.-GENERAL SIR G. M. MACDONOGH, K.C.B.,K.C.M.G. Adjutant General to the Forces.
Cross and Torch Bearers.
His EMINENCE THE CARDINAL ARCHBISHOP OF WESTMINSTER.
HIS LORDSHIP THE BISHOP OF PORTSMOUTH.
Hrs LORDSHIP THE BISHOP OF NOTTINGHAM.
The Ceremony was arranged for 3 p.m., by which time some 500 guests had arrived. A special enclosure close to the Memorial was reserved for the relatives of O.B.’s. killed in the War, and the remainder of the guests assembled round the Memorial, The front was kept by a guard of the O.T.C., under the Command of Cadet-Officers Cuddon and Peppercorn.
No sooner had the clock struck three than was heard the skirl of the Pipes, and the Procession, which had been formed in front of the Ambulacrum, was seen to be slowly making its way at a slow march up the long walk. The Procession was headed by the Pipers, Drums, Fifes and Buglers of the Irish Guards, the Pipers playing a funeral march.
Then came the Guard of Honour formed of the O.T.C. under the command of Captain Parker, Lt. Enright being second in command. Immediately behind them was Lt.-General Sir G. M. MacDonogh (O.B.), K.C.B., K.C.M.G., Adjutant General to the Forces. The Cross and Torch Bearers then followed preceding His Eminence the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, His Lordship the Bishop of Portsmouth, and His Lordship the Bishop of Nottingham.
On arriving at the Memorial, the Hon. Mr Justice Russell, on behalf of the Committee, asked Lieut.-General Sir G. M. MacDonogh to carry out the unveiling ceremony.
The latter then advanced and after lowering the Union Jack which covered the Crucifix, made the following address :-
“I venture to think that no better day could have been chosen for the unveiling of the Beaumont War Memorial than this 13th November. In the first place it Is the Feast of St. Stanislaus, the Patron of this College, and therefore the Patron of. ‘those whose names are recorded on this Memorial. From the very first day we came to Beaumont we were taught the motto of St. Stanislaus: ‘Aeterna non Caduca,’I think that this motto must have come as a
consolation to the minds of our fallen comrades as they lay dying, and perishable things were passing from them.
Another motto of every Beaumont boy is ‘Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.’ He writes A.M.D.G. at the top oi every page of his work. Those we commemorate to-day carried out this motto. The cause for which they were fighting was a just cause, and they were giving their lives for it, they felt they could write at the head of their lives record AMDG.
Another reason: To-day is Armistice Sunday. Just three weeks ago I came back from visiting the soldiers’ graves in the Cemeteries in France, Belgium and Italy. Some contained over 14,000 bodies, others but one, yet all alike were united by the one common bond- they died for their Country. I am sorry that the Poppy has been adopted this year as a sign of Commemoration: it is a pagan flower and emblematic of oblivion, and the last thing we want to do is to forget our dead.
Nor can we forget the events which during the War occurred on this day, the 13th November. It was two days earlier, the 11th November when the Prussian Guard made their furious onslaught up the Menin Road and the British Army was almost at their last gasp, fighting with breath enough to blow out the German flame. Two years later, on the 13th November, was the brilliant victory when Beaumont Hamel was captured. On a 13th November too, was the Third terrible battle of Ypres which resulted in the gaining possession of Passchendael.
Who can forget all these things ? We must learn our lesson from those who fought and died for us. That lesson is contained in these two maxims. The motto of St. Stanislaus can be freely translated, ‘Pay no attention to
your material advantages, think only of others’; and anybody who writes A.M.D.G. at the top of his work must always give of his best. There then is the lesson. Thought for others, and put your back into your work. And if Beaumont boys do these things they will deserve well of their School and of their Country.
At the conclusion of this address, His Eminence Cardinal Bourne proceeded to bless The Memorial.
The Hon. Mr. Justice Russell then placed at the foot of the Memorial a wreath, composed of red and white carnations and tied with the Beaumont Colours. Attached to the wreath was a card with the inscription – ‘In Memoriam. Our Gallant Schoolfellows who fell in the Great War, from The Beaumont. Union’. Another wreath was placed by J. Peppercorn, Captain of the School. Several other
wreaths from relatives of the fallen were also laid on the steps the Memorial. The buglers and drums of the Irish Guards then played the Last Post. The proceedings terminated with the National Anthem.
HONOUR
(Fr F C Devas SJ OBE, DSO.)
Read each dear name upon this stone
And having read.
Remember why their blood was shed;
Through honour was their strong faith shown,
Whose faith, whose honour, are our own.
THE WAR DEAD numbered 138 of whom19 came from The Dominions and Colonies, 6 from France and 3 from The United States including the first American to join the British Army and fight in the War. Not all are named on The Memorial as records were not available at the time. Sadly, in percentage terms, Beaumont’s losses were amongst the highest of any school in the Country.
Beaumont’s contribution to the War was exceptional for several reasons. Firstly, it was a small school but a very large proportion of its old boys, some 600 served in uniform. The nationalities covered not only British, Empire and Dominions but also French, Belgian and Americans: Beaumont was very international.
Their names appeared in all services and at all ranks from General to Private, the Naval equivalent and the Air Forces. They played a particular role at the head of Intelligence (Gen. MacDonogh) and the Resistance.
(Prince Reginald de Croy). They fought on all fronts from Flanders to Russia, Italy, Salonika, Palestine, Mesopotamia, East Africa, and the Grand Fleet Battle at Jutland. Capt. James Marriott was one of the witnesses to the signing of the Armistice. There were those involved in the diplomatic service such as Sir Mark Sykes whose decisions effected the post war period even to the present day.
PRO PATRIA
Among the dead are the Bicknells father and son and ten brothers from families such as the well-known Catholic de Lisles and the Weld-Blundells The two American Parrotts and the Considines from Ireland. Mdn. Geoffrey Harold was the youngest casualty at 15, lost at sea trying to save a friend when their ship was sunk and his brother Bevan died with the RFC. The Grisewoods lost three, two of whom were under the command of their eldest brother Harman. Cmdr. Osmond Prentis fired the first salvo against the Ottomans from his ship in 1914. Charles Dalglish was the first Australian to die in the War but with The Black Watch as was Col. Thomas Berkeley the oldest OB to die at 56. Harry Butters was the first American to join the BEF, his obituary written by Winston Churchill. Lord de Freyne and several grandsons of peers, heirs to Baronetcies such as Raphael Hamilton-Dalrymple and sons of Knights: Alwyn Gosselin DSO were among the fallen. Launcelot Cary was the last of his line. Two French Counts, de Boisgelin and d’Yanville died resplendent in their full-dress uniforms in outdated Cavalry charges. Walter Clifford was killed leading his
guardsmen with “My boy Jack” Kipling. Edward Bonnyman DSO, MC wearing his monocle and wielding a stick driving the Germans from the trenches. Brig. Gen. Martin DSO & Bar was the most senior OB killed commanding his Brigade against the last German offensive. Lionel Wood died in the Canadian Cavalry charge that halted that final German advance. Edgar Guillet was posthumously awarded France’s highest decoration for bravery. Raymond Hennessy of Cognac fell with the “Blue Devils” on the Somme. Wilfrid Stapleton-Bretherton’s brother-in-law Prince Blucher was with the opposing Army. The Hon Hugh O’Beirne CB, CVO Foreign Office Minister was lost with Ld. Kitchener when their ship was sunk on their mission to Russia. Henry Pearce MC, is remembered for his mine that today is known as “The Peace Crater”. All listed with the other OBs without rank or decorations.
THE POPPY CONTOVERSY
In 1915 John McCrae wrote his short but evocative poem “In Flanders fields the poppies blow.” At the end of the War, inspired by those words, it was The American Legion who first adopted the poppy followed by the French, though this was later changed to the blue cornflower. In August 1921, the newly-founded British Legion also agreed that it should be their emblem. The first Poppy day was held on 11 November 1921.
The controversy arose when General MacDonogh, spoke at Beaumont shortly afterwards, that the poppy was
inappropriate because it was ‘a pagan flower’ and an emblem of the dead and the past: the last thing we want to
do is forget them. It was linked to Persephone, the Queen of the underworld in Greek mythology, who enjoyed the narcotic qualities of the opium derived from poppy seeds and although the opium poppy and the corn poppy are different — his views, reported in the press, showed there was genuine concern among the British public.
MacDonogh, considered by many to be the brightest and most intellectual of wartime senior officers, had headed Military Intelligence throughout the War. He had been the King’s Representative to bring back the Body of the Unknown Warrior and at this time was responsible for the reclamation of the Fallen to the War Grave Cemeteries. His views were taken seriously.
The British Legion, aware of the poppy’s other status as the flower of oblivion, argued that it was now resurrecting it as the flower of remembrance, ‘watered with the blood of soldiers’, a symbol that ‘neither poppies nor fallen soldiers would ever truly die’.
The MILITARY CROSS
The award most synonymous with the Great War was the Military Cross. It was designed by an OB Sir Henry Farnham Burke, KCVO, CB, FSA who was then serving as Norroy King of Arms. In 1919, he was appointed Garter Principle King of Arms. On each arm of the silver Military Cross is an Imperial Crown and in the centre of the award is the ‘Imperial’ and ‘Royal Cypher’ of the reigning sovereign. The reverse of the award is plain with the year of the award engraved on the lower arm. The bar is made of silver with a crown in the centre.
The award was created on 28 December 1914 for commissioned officers of the substantive rank of captain or below and for warrant officers as there was no gallantry awards lesser than the Victoria Cross and the Distinguished Service Order for junior Army officers and Warrant officers. The MC is awarded in recognition of "an act or acts of exemplary gallantry during active operations against the enemy on land". Apart from Individuals, (69 were awarded to OBs in WW1), the medal was also awarded by King George V to the cities of Ypres and Verdun.
THE SECOND WORLD WAR
1939 - 1945
The Sketch by Sydney Weeks, President of the London Sketch Club that appeared as part of the War Fund Appeal 1947.
“VIVAT SINE MACULA NOMEN BEAUMONTANUM”
“The last line of the CARMEN stands at the head of the appeal and nobly we venture to say have the sons of Beaumont once more upheld her fair name in every theatre of War.” Russell of Killowen. (January 1947).
25th JULY 1948
The Unveiling of the War Memorial Bronze Plaque To those who gave their lives in The Second World War 1939 – 1945.
This plaque placed below that of the Great War “To the Glorious memory of the boys of Beaumont College who gave their lives in the Great War 1914 -1918 in simplicity is written:
“And to those who followed after them 1939 – 1945.
For our tomorrow they gave their today”.
The ceremony commenced with a Pontifical High Mass celebrated by The Right Rev. John King Bishop of Portsmouth with Fr Sass (OB 1914) as deacon and Mr M Ross (OB1932) as sub-deacon. The Choir sang “Cunctipons Genitor Deus”.
After Mass, a Guard of Honour of the J.T.C. Commanding Officer Captain Freiherr Ernst von Roretz, RSM. WO1 Kelly late Irish Guards took up position. Then following a short speech by Wilfrid Bowring Esq (OB), Chairman of the War Memorial Fund, The Plaque was unveiled by His Lordship Bishop Chichester, who as past Rector, knew so many of those named. The current incumbent Fr Boyle recited the “De Profundis” and the Buglers of the Corps Band sounded the Last Post and Reveille.
PRO PATRIA
THE WAR DEAD in this conflict numbered 95 and again not all are named on the Memorial. Beaumont’s contribution to the War effort was in many ways similar to that of the Great War. Almost 800 served in the armed forces and it was fortunate that our casualty figures were reduced. With the change in warfare, more OBs served in the RAF and its volunteer reserve than in the Navy and this is reflected in those that died where pilots and bomber crews proved especially vulnerable. The school Corps formed part of the Home Lands Battalion responsible for guarding Windsor Castle and other Royal property.
Once again, the Beaumont contingent came from many nations and apart from the British, there were French, American, Irish as well as those from the Commonwealth. They served at all ranks and in all theatres with again a particular emphasis on Intelligence from the Cabinet Office, Combined Operations, and Bletchley Park to SOE
and The Resistance: four OBs were either executed or murdered in the concentration camps.
As in the First War, many of the familiar Catholic families lost sons: Throckmorton and Eyston at Dunkirk, also George Clifford whose brother was killed in the First War. Stourton and Monteith in Malaya and Scrope in the skies above England. Comte Gaultier de Beauvais was the first OB casualty on a special mission in Oct. 1939. Denis Sweetman younger brother of a future Irish minister was killed “spiking his guns” at Dunkirk. Rear Adm. Plowden DSO the most senior went down with his ship on an Atlantic convoy as did Robert Nicholl-Cadell getting others into life-boats.
Veteran of the Malta convoys, the Canadian Dr Dennis Macsherry and his brother Louis shot down at the end of the Battle of Britain, the American Crimmins, Hugh USAAF in support of the Normandy landings, Thomas with the Marines at Okinawa, his Princeton classmate Reggie Dussaq OSS also died in Normandy. Gerard “Florrie” Ford MC with his Para Company liberated the first village in France - Ranville. Both Noel Cleaver and Capel Pritchard joined the Yeomanry, both fought and died at Falaise and are buried there together.
Geoffrey Monk MC was killed commanding his Buffs Battalion at Monte Casino having lost his brother Antony a flying casualty of Alamein having survived the Battle of
Britain. Ronald Murphy MC commanding another Buffs Battalion died in that same desert battle. His namesake
Peter MC Irish Fusiliers was also killed in the Desert: at Dunkirk, despite having been shot through the lung, he
commanded a rearguard for several days. John Taylor DFC & Bar was a leading air ace with 15 kills in just over a year before being killed above Sicily. Wg. Cmdr. Peter Shand DFC led some of the most daring Mosquito raids of the War. John Bunbury was on his last and 30th bombing mission over Germany when his luck ran out. American Carlos Brown crossed into Canada at the start of the War to join the RCAF: a pathfinder, his Lancaster came down near Frankfurt and his remains were only discovered in 2011.
Two senior Officers Colonel Ronald Macdonell and Brigadier Jerry Sheil were brothers in law, fine horsemen and both awarded a DSO & Bar: Jerry died as the War ended as did Christopher Blundell-Hill the last RAF fighter casualty. James Ferris USAAF flew over 120 fighter missions. Vicomte Michael de Kerdrel made a remarkable escape from France with an SOE agent and was killed as a night fighter pilot in 1944. James Fuller carried out special intelligence gathering behind the Japanese lines before a last ditch stand at Sheldon’s Corner the same year. Victor Whittington-Steiner, a Glider pilot was lost on the fateful airborne assault on Sicily. Baron Jean de Vomecourt was a founder, with his brothers of the French Resistance, and was murdered in a concentration camp. Brian Rafferty MC, SOE was another executed on the gallows on Hitler’s orders. These and all the others gave their lives.
THE BOER WAR
Beaumont has one other War Memorial for those killed in the Boer War 1899 – 1902. Some 110 OBs took part which in proportion to her numbers, approximately 1 in 6, was more than any other school in the Country. 5 were killed, 3 British, a Canadian and an Australian.
The Memorial was inspired by four OBs who met by chance on the high Veldt towards the end of the War and who decided it should be placed where the school congregated: it was therefore placed in the refectory. The Memorial was designed by the future Sir Giles Gilbert Scott (OB). It was unveiled in 1905 by Field Marshal Sir Evelyn Wood VC, GCB, GCMG. The father of 3 OBs who fought there.
And when their moment came,
They were mindful to resist and suffer,
Rather than to fly and save their lives.
They ran away from the word dishonour,
But on the battlefield their feet stood fast……..
(From the War Memorial Fund Appeal)