Captain Eric Paton Beaumont (MC)

• Age: 22
• From: Rock Ferry, Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• D.O.W Tuesday 2nd April 1918
• Commemorated at: St Sever Cem, Rouen
  Panel Ref: Officers B.6.17

Eric Paton Beaumont was born on the 05^th July 1895 in Marsden, Yorkshire, the son of Rev. Luke Beaumont, pastor of Bridge End Congregational Church, Brighouse and his wife Mary (nee Mapleston).

The 1901 Census finds the family living at 49 Claremont Road, Seaforth. Eric is five years old and lives with his parents and younger brother. His father, Luke is a 33 year old congregational minster born in Rochdale, whilst his mother, Mary, is 35 years of age and was born in Huddersfield. His brother, Luke C. is 4 years of age and was also born in Marsden. The family employ a 19 year old servant Maggie McShenon.

He was educated at Birkenhead Institute from 1904 and from there went to Taunton School, going on to Pembroke College, Oxford University with £140 a year in scholarships where he obtained first-class honours in Moderations, and was a member of the Union and of the College OTC.

The 1911 Census finds shows that the family have moved acroos the River Mersey to 20 Woodland Road, Rock Ferry. Eric is 15 and lives with his parents and brother. His father is a 43 year old congregational minister, his mother is 44 years of age. They advise that they have been married for 16 years and have had two children. His brother, Luke Cyril, is 14 years old. There is also a general servant declared; Elizabeth Ann Colley aged 23.    

Eric volunteered for active service in 1914, but was rejected due to his poor eyesight but was subsequently gazetted 2^nd Lieutenant into the 17^th Battalion along with his brother Luke Cyril Beaumont on the 29^th June, 1915. He was promoted to Lieutenant in early 1917 and temporary Captain soon after. He served in France and Flanders from March 1916 and was wounded in the head by shrapnel whilst on night patrol duty on the 30^th June and invalided home. He rejoined his unit on the 25^th December 1916. His conduct earned him the award of the Military Cross. This was announced at Battalion Headquarters on 27th August 1917;he was officially awarded the ribbon of the decoration on 29th October 1917. The Citation for the Cross, which appeared in the Supplement to the London Gazette for 9th January 1918 states:

“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He visited his platoon under a heavy enemy barrage, encouraging and cheering his men, and having led the as far as he could, as they were suffering casualties, he dug in and consolidated a strong point. During the whole of his time he went round with complete disregard of machine-gun and rifle fire, greatly inspiring his men by his courage and high spirits, and by his fine leadership a very valuable point of ground was taken”.

On January 7th 1918, the 20th Battalion War Diary mentions that he had been appointed entraining officer for the Battalion’s move from Hangar to Bayonvillers, and it is presumed that when the 20th Battalion was disbanded in early February, he was transferred to the 17th Battalion.

On 22nd March the 17th Battalion War Diary records that Captain E P Beaumont MC, was sent with ’D’ Company, to the 2/5th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment, to Honlon Wood, to make a counter attack along part of the battle zone. The counter attack was successful, but Eric suffered a very severe wound to the abdomen and two wounds in the legs. He was evacuated to the No. 8 General Hospital at Rouen, but despite two emergency operations he could not be saved and succumbed to his wounds there on 2nd April 1918. He was aged 22.

Lieutenant-Colonel Watson wrote:

“He was one of my best officers and I feel his loss very much. His coolness and bravery in action were beyond all praise and he was a born leader of men”.

The Chaplain wrote:

“Making as he did such a splendid officer, the men loved him, and when he was wounded and almost surrounded, they brought him gently out of it all. They would rather have died with him than leave him behind…. He was in this war fighting for a great ideal and the war had left him untouched in the best things”.  

The Master of Pembroke College wrote:

“His death meant the extinction of high hopes of academic success". 

London Gazette, January 1918

He was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during the severe fighting in July 1917. He visited his platoons under a heavy enemy barrage encouraging and cheering his men, and having led them as far as he could as they were suffering casualties, he dug in and consolidated a strong point. During the whole of this time he went around with complete disregard of machine-gun and rifle fire, greatly inspiring his men by his courage and high spirits, and by his fine leadership a very valuable piece of ground was taken.’ 

Eric now rests at St Sever Cemetery Extension, France where his headstone bears the epitaph:

“HE WAS LOVELY AND PLEASANT IN HIS LIFE AND HE DIED IN PEACE” 

During the First World War, Commonwealth camps and hospitals were stationed on the southern outskirts of Rouen. A base supply depot and the 3rd Echelon of General Headquarters were also established in the city.

Almost all of the hospitals at Rouen remained there for practically the whole of the war. They included eight general, five stationary, one British Red Cross, one labour hospital, and No. 2 Convalescent Depot. A number of the dead from these hospitals were buried in other cemeteries, but the great majority were taken to the city cemetery of St. Sever. In September 1916, it was found necessary to begin an extension.

The Cemetery and the Extension adjoin each other but have separate Registers.

St. Sever Cemetery contains 3,082 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There is also 1 French burial and 1 non war service burial here.The adjoining cemetery extension contains 8,348 Commonwealth burials of the First World War (ten of them unidentified) and in Block "S" there are 328 from the Second World War (18 of them unidentified). There are also 8 Foreign National burials here.

The Commonwealth plots were designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.

Eric's death was reported in the press in April 1918:

BRIGHOUSE MINISTER'S SON KILLED

The death from wounds received in action is reported of Acting Captain Eric P. Beaumont M.C., (22), eldest son of the Rev. Luke Beaumont, pastor of Bridge End Congregational Church, Brighouse. Last Thursday the family where notified of the wounding of the soldier, and on Wednesday the news was officially forwarded of his death. The greatest sympathy has been extended to the relatives in their great loss. Captain Beaumont has gained the Military Cross for conspicuous bravery on the field.

Eric is also commemorated on the following Memorials;

Birkenhead Institute Roll of Honour, Whetstone Lane, Birkenhead

Birkenhead War Memorial, Hamilton Square

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 15 Left

His brother Luke Cyril joined the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 16156. He earned a commission and subsequently served in the 12th Battalion K.L.R. as Lieutenant. He survived the war.   

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