high wood Posted 13 March , 2011 Share Posted 13 March , 2011 I have searched for evidence that this particular officer's name is widely known but so far I have not seen him mentioned in relation to his colour. If the officer is widely known then please forgive me for raising the topic. However, I think it is possible that he received his commission before Walter Tull and may be one of the first black officers to have seen action with the British Army during the Great War. 2nd Lieutenant George Edward Kingsley Bemand was born on the 19th March, 1892 and was educated at Dulwich College and on leaving went up to University College London to study engineering. He joined the London University Officers Training Corps and obtained a temporary commission in the Royal Field Artillery in May 1915. After completing his training at Grantham and Salisbury Plain he proceeded to France in November 1915, being attached to the Ammunition Column of the 148th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. In October 1916, he transferred to "Y 5" Trench Mortar Battery, 5th Division and was killed by a shell on 26th December, 1916. He is buried at the British Cemetery at Le Touret, near Bethune. Dulwich College Roll of Honour: Page 18. Unremarkable in itself so far particularly as his CWGC entry gives no details of his family. However, Dulwich College Roll of Honour lists a Gunner Harold Leslie Bemand, Royal Field Artillery who was also killed in action on 7th June 1917. He is recorded as being the younger brother of G. E. K. Bemand. What is interesting is that Harold Leslie Bemand's CWGC entry does give next of kin details. BEMAND, HAROLD LESLIE Initials: H L Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Gunner Regiment/Service: Royal Field Artillery Unit Text: "X" 8th T.M. Bty. Age: 19 Date of Death: 07/06/1917 Service No: 107838 Additional information: Son of George and Mary E. Bemand, of St. Michael's Villa, 1, Bow St., Kingston, Jamaica. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Enclosure No.2 I. F. 15. Cemetery: BEDFORD HOUSE CEMETERY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grantowi Posted 13 March , 2011 Share Posted 13 March , 2011 Mary is shown in the 1911 census as head of the household, living at 26 Woodville Road, Ealing, London. She is listed as married but hubby isnt at home on census night There are two son's, Harold and Vernon (b1899) and a daughter, Elsie (b1909) Mary, Harold amd Vernon are all listed as "Kingston Jamacia, British West Indies Resident", Elsie was born in London. Family not shown on the 1901 census Grant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
high wood Posted 13 March , 2011 Author Share Posted 13 March , 2011 They were obviously a fairly wealthy family to have sent two sons to a public school. I think that they are worthy of further research. It would be interesting to see what George Bemand's service papers say about his cultural heritage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myrtle Posted 13 March , 2011 Share Posted 13 March , 2011 Although Mary was born in Kingston, Jamaica, the 1911 census also says that she was a "British Subject by parentage". Also there were 4 children, therefore one was absent from the household in addition to the father. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grantowi Posted 13 March , 2011 Share Posted 13 March , 2011 Also there were 4 children, therefore one was absent from the household in addition to the father. Presumably the fore mentioned George Edward Kingsley Cant see him, nor Dad on the 1911 Grant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 13 March , 2011 Share Posted 13 March , 2011 Although Mary was born in Kingston, Jamaica, the 1911 census also says that she was a "British Subject by parentage". Also there were 4 children, therefore one was absent from the household in addition to the father. Surely anyone born in Jamaica at the time was a British Subject? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myrtle Posted 13 March , 2011 Share Posted 13 March , 2011 There is a George Bemand visiting his sister's family in Bromyard, at the time of the 1911 census. He is said to be of independent means and seems to be of suitable age. Surely anyone born in Jamaica at the time was a British Subject? Well that's what it says. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IPT Posted 13 March , 2011 Share Posted 13 March , 2011 Elsie was born in London. I was hoping Elsie was a relative; http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20011023/cleisure/cleisure2.html However, the reference to her mother's Jamaican heritage is confusing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grantowi Posted 13 March , 2011 Share Posted 13 March , 2011 According to TNA he was only a Temporary 2nd Lieutentant. Maybe because he wasn't a fully fledged and badged 2nd Lieutentant, he wasn't reconised as an officer ? Grant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myrtle Posted 13 March , 2011 Share Posted 13 March , 2011 IPT It could be Elsie the sister as according to the 1911 census she was born in 1909. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IPT Posted 13 March , 2011 Share Posted 13 March , 2011 The address of his mother on his MIC is 66 Denmark Hill, SE. His date of entry is actually given as 16/8/1916 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
high wood Posted 13 March , 2011 Author Share Posted 13 March , 2011 "According to TNA he was only a Temporary 2nd Lieutentant. Maybe because he wasn't a fully fledged and badged 2nd Lieutentant, he wasn't reconised as an officer ?" I think that most non regular Army officers particularly those in "Service" battalions were issued with temporary commissions. I have just been looking at the Spurs website where it says that Walter Tull was commissioned on 30th May 1917. George Edward Kingsley Bemand was commissioned in May 1915 so clearly Walter Tull was not the first black officer in the British army during the Great War as some people have claimed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susanhemmings Posted 13 March , 2011 Share Posted 13 March , 2011 Arriving in New York on 9th July 1908 Minnie Bemand Arrival Date: 9 Jul 1908 Birth Year: abt 1869 Birth Location: Jamaica Birth Location Other: Kingston, Jamaica Age: 39 Years 3 Months Gender: Female Ethnicity/Race- /Nationality: English Port of Departure: Kingston, Jamaica Port of Arrival: New York, New York Ship Name: Orinoco Presumably Harold: Idarold Bemand Arrival Date: 9 Jul 1908 Birth Year: abt 1897 Birth Location: Jamaica Birth Location Other: Kingston, Jamaica Age: 10 Years 7 Months Gender: Male Ethnicity/Race- /Nationality: English Port of Departure: Kingston, Jamaica Port of Arrival: New York, New York Ship Name: Orinoco and presumably Vernon: Lemon Bemand Arrival Date: 9 Jul 1908 Birth Year: abt 1899 Birth Location: Jamaica Birth Location Other: Kingston, Jamaica Age: 9 Gender: Male Ethnicity/Race- /Nationality: English Port of Departure: Kingston, Jamaica Port of Arrival: New York, New York Ship Name: Orinoco Incoming passenger list on Ancestry has 21st July 1908 British Passengers - Vernon Bemand Birth Date: abt 1899 Age: 9 Port of Departure: New York, New York, United States Arrival Date: 21 Jul 1908 Port of Arrival: Liverpool, England and Queenstown, Ireland Ship Name: Lusitania Search Ship Database: View the 'Lusitania' in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database Shipping line: Cunard Line Official Number: 124082 Minnie Bemand Birth Date: abt 1874 Age: 34 Port of Departure: New York, New York, United States Arrival Date: 21 Jul 1908 Port of Arrival: Liverpool, England and Queenstown, Ireland Ship Name: Lusitania Search Ship Database: View the 'Lusitania' in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database Shipping line: Cunard Line Official Number: 124082 Harold Bemand Birth Date: abt 1898 Age: 10 Port of Departure: New York, New York, United States Arrival Date: 21 Jul 1908 Port of Arrival: Liverpool, England and Queenstown, Ireland Ship Name: Lusitania Search Ship Database: View the 'Lusitania' in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database Shipping line: Cunard Line Official Number: 124082 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susanhemmings Posted 13 March , 2011 Share Posted 13 March , 2011 And here is George: George E K Bemand Arrival Date: 21 Oct 1907 Age: 15 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1892 Gender: Male Ethnic Background: African (Black) Port of Departure: Port Morant, Jamaica Ship Name: Admiral Sampson Port of Arrival: Boston, Massachusetts Friend's Name: Gerald Streadwick Last Residence: Jamaica Birthplace: Kingston, Jamaica Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Woods Posted 13 March , 2011 Share Posted 13 March , 2011 Perhaps the person behind this website might add some more info? http://caribbeanrollofhonour-ww1-ww2.yolasite.com/ There is a passenger list on Ancesty of passengers arriving at Boston aboard the Devonian Feb 1912 - passengers include Mary E Bemand aged 43, Harold L Bemand aged 14 and 2 months, Vernon aged 12 years 11 months, and Elsie aged 3 years and 4 months - destination Kingston Jamiaca Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 13 March , 2011 Share Posted 13 March , 2011 According to TNA he was only a Temporary 2nd Lieutentant. Maybe because he wasn't a fully fledged and badged 2nd Lieutentant, he wasn't reconised as an officer ? Grant This would merely mean a temporary war time commission - same as the vast majority of officers in WW1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susanhemmings Posted 13 March , 2011 Share Posted 13 March , 2011 Not sure if this is the Elsie: From Liverpool to Boston 28.1.1912 Then, 1938 (if it is of interest) Elsie Kathleen Bemand Arrival Date: 1 Sep 1938 Birth Year: abt 1908 Birth Location: England Birth Location Other: London Age: 30 Gender: Female Ethnicity/Race- /Nationality: West Indian (Native American) Place of Origin: Jamaica Port of Departure: Kingston, Jamaica Port of Arrival: New York, New York Port Arrival State: New York Port Arrival Country: United States Ship Name: Atlantida Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myrtle Posted 14 March , 2011 Share Posted 14 March , 2011 And here is George: George E K Bemand Arrival Date: 21 Oct 1907 Age: 15 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1892 Gender: Male Ethnic Background: African (Black)Port of Departure: Port Morant, Jamaica Ship Name: Admiral Sampson Port of Arrival: Boston, Massachusetts Friend's Name: Gerald Streadwick Last Residence: Jamaica Birthplace: Kingston, Jamaica Susan You seem to have found evidence that George E. K. was Black Afro/Caribbean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susanhemmings Posted 14 March , 2011 Share Posted 14 March , 2011 Seems so. Did not even notice that. Too busy trying to get it all in line! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myrtle Posted 14 March , 2011 Share Posted 14 March , 2011 Seems so. Did not even notice that. Too busy trying to get it all in line! There is a bit of a mystery however regarding his brothers being listed differently. They could be half brothers but then the 1911 census says that Mary had 4 children. Also there is the question about Elsie's ethnicity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susanhemmings Posted 14 March , 2011 Share Posted 14 March , 2011 With George, in 1907 I should have noticed: Minnie E Bemand Arrival Date: 21 Oct 1907 Age: 38 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1869 Gender: Female Ethnic Background: African (Black) Port of Departure: Port Morant, Jamaica Ship Name: Admiral Sampson Port of Arrival: Boston, Massachusetts Friend's Name: Gerald Streadwick Last Residence: Jamaica Birthplace: Kingston, Jamaica Vernon C Bemand Arrival Date: 21 Oct 1907 Age: 8 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1899 Gender: Male Ethnic Background: African (Black) Port of Departure: Port Morant, Jamaica Ship Name: Admiral Sampson Port of Arrival: Boston, Massachusetts Friend's Name: Gerald Streadwick Last Residence: Jamaica Birthplace: Kingston, Jamaica Harald Le Bemand Arrival Date: 21 Oct 1907 Age: 10 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1897 Gender: Male Ethnic Background: African (Black) Port of Departure: Port Morant, Jamaica Ship Name: Admiral Sampson Port of Arrival: Boston, Massachusetts Friend's Name: Gerald Streadwick Last Residence: Jamaica Birthplace: Kingston, Jamaica will look at bit more for Elsie's ethnicity. Possibly "Black British" (if they had that in 1909 when she was born) Edit: Nothing furher on Elsie re shipping / passenger etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myrtle Posted 14 March , 2011 Share Posted 14 March , 2011 Susan So differing entries but looks as if Mother and boys were all of the same ethicity. I wouldn't be surprised if Elsie turns out to be the same as the lady mentioned earlier, on the website. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susanhemmings Posted 14 March , 2011 Share Posted 14 March , 2011 Yes, I think you are probably right Susan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 14 March , 2011 Share Posted 14 March , 2011 Not sure if this is the Elsie: From Liverpool to Boston 28.1.1912 Then, 1938 (if it is of interest) Elsie Kathleen Bemand Arrival Date: 1 Sep 1938 Birth Year: abt 1908 Birth Location: England Birth Location Other: London Age: 30 Gender: Female Ethnicity/Race- /Nationality: West Indian (Native American) Place of Origin: Jamaica Port of Departure: Kingston, Jamaica Port of Arrival: New York, New York Port Arrival State: New York Port Arrival Country: United States Ship Name: Atlantida Elsie Kathleen Bemand became the first West Indian Deaconess. She had been brought up CoE but at some time switched to the Methodists. Her Father was ethnicaly English but her mother was mixed - having some African ancestry - originally from Ashanti. There is still a girls home that bears her name in Jamaica. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susanhemmings Posted 14 March , 2011 Share Posted 14 March , 2011 That is wonderful to see them "come to life" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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