RFA Officers - Beever and Burnyeat

[BillyH]

I really need the service records of 3 officers on my local memorial for a book to be published probably at the end of the year.

I am well on with the book now, and really need to get these records soon but I can't fit in a trip to Kew for a couple of months.

Would anyone who is going to Kew in the few weeks be able to help me please?

I will gladly offer a free copy of the book to anyone kind enough to help.

Please reply here or by PM if you can fit it in. (PM may be a better option in order not to get deluged with other requests!)

Many thanks for any help offered, BillyH.

[sotonmate]

If you don't have the papers or an offer by the first week in Sept send me a PM with the file numbers.

[BillyH]

sotonmate,

Thank you very much for the offer, I will get back to you in early September if I don't have any luck in the meantime.

Much appreciated.

BillyH.

[rflory]

BillyH: If you have any Royal Artillery officers in your list from the local memorial, I would be happy to see if I have anything on them. Regards, Dick Flory

[BillyH]

Thanks Dick,

I have PM'd you with details of one officer.

Thanks, BillyH.

[BillyH]

A big thank you to Sotonmate for his help.

BillyH.

[rflory]

2nd Lieut. Jonathan Holt Beever, RFA

Son of Major H H Beever, RFA of Littleton House, Blandford

Educated at Harrow School from Midsummer 1911 to 1914

Gentleman Cadet, RMA, Woolwich, 1915 (recipient of Riding Prize)

Commissioned 2nd Lt, RFA, July 1915

Went to France with A Battery, 119th Brigade, RFA in July 1916

Posted to 'G' Battery, XVII Brigade, RHA in 1917

Killed in action on 24 March 1918

The Adjutant of XVII Brigade, RHA wrote to his father: "G Battery was ordered into action on the 21st. The Captain was wounded and missing the same evening, and command of the Battery then devolved upon your son. He fought the Battery with extraordinary skill and gallantry in the rearguard action that followed, hanging on to the last moment to cover the retreat of the Infantry. On two occasions he took teams from G Battery to save guns, bringing them back each time. Accounts speak of the splendid work done by the Battery which was fully up to the highest standard of the Horse Artillery. Your son was killed instantly by a shell on March 24th, and was buried near Herbécourt. The Officer in Command, with whom we have been working, wishes to recommend your son for the Victoria Cross, and we all wish to pay our tribute to a very gallant comrade. I feel sure it will be a great consulation to you to know that it is considered that the Horse Artillery played a great part on very critical days."

His photo is from the first mentioned source is below left.

Sources: Harrow Memorials of the Great War, Volume V; Harrow School Register 1845-1925.

Lieut. Colonel Hugh Ponsonby Burnyeat, RFA

Born on 5 May 1881, the third and youngest son of William Burnyeat, DL, JP, and Sarah Frances Burnyeat of Millgrove, Moresby, Whitehaven.

Educated at Rugby School from 1895 to 1898

Gentleman Cadet, RMA Woolwich, 1898

Commissioned in RFA in January 1900

Posted to Z Battery, RHA

Adjutant, Berkshire RHA TF

In 1910 he married Elsie Gertrude, the only child of Francis William Harrison with which he had a son and a daughter.

In 1910 he joined 121st Battery, RFA at Woolwich

In 1911 posted to Z Battery, RHA in India

Exchanged to I Battery, RHA at Aldershot in 1912

Rode many winners under National Hunt Rules and won the Royal Artillery Gold Cup on his own horse, Down Patrick II.

Went to France as Battery Captain of I Battery, RHA on 15 August 1914 and took part in the retreat from Mons and the battles of the Marne and the Aisne.

Promoted Major, RHA in October 1914

Invalided home in December 1914

Mentioned in Despatches, London Gazette of 14 January 1915

Class B Mentions by Secretary of State for War in The Times of 24 Feb 1917, 13 Mar 1915 and 13 Aug 1918.

Chief Instructor of Gunnery, Larkhill in 1915-1916

In February 1917 became Commandant of the RFA Cadet School at Weedon, Northamptonshire

Returned to France as Officer Commanding, 65th Army Brigade, RFA

Killed in action by a shell near Le Cateau on 30 October 1918 at age 37

His photo, below right, is from the first mentioned source.

Sources: Memorials of Rugbeians Who Fell in the Great War, Volume VI; Rugby School War Record; Rugby School Register, Annotated, 1892-1921.