2nd Lt Charles Leslie Beaumont RFC

[Perth Digger]

I have the RFC background of 18-year-old Beaumont, who was KIFA with Capt J F St J Annesley, RAMC as passenger at Thetford. Annesley wanted to experience the effects of flying for a research project. The flight was officially unauthorised, although Annesley had been given permission to fly.

I would appreciate help in finding out more about Beaumont. All I have is that he was born on 15 August 1898 and that he attended St Lawrence College, Ramsgate, leaving there to enter the RFC directly. I wonder of his family was in India or elsewhere in the empire?

Thanks

Mike

[PRC]

It doesn't answer your main question  amd it may not add anything to the many other reports on the inquest that occur in national & regional titles that are available via the British Newspaper Archive, but this report was in the edition of the Norwich Mercury dated Saturday, May 26th, 1917.

Despite the title the Norwich printed twice weekly newspaper was widely read in the Norfolk area - from the typical coverage it would appear particularly in towns like Thetford that were connected to Norwich by the Great Eastern Railway. I believe currently the British Newspaper Archive only have it up to 1912. Note spelling of pilots' surname.

FLYING FATALITIES.

PILOT AND DOCTOR KILLED IN A CRASH.

On Monday evening a Norfolk Borough Coroner held an inquest on the bodies of Capt. James Ferguson St. John Annesley R.A.M.C., and Second Lieut. Charles Leslie Beumont, who met their death on Saturday evening whilst flying together in an aeroplane.

Dr. A.L. Tate deposed to being called to see the bodies of the deceased about 7.30 p.m. on Saturday. He examined both bodies, and found life extinct in each case.  On Sunday morning he made a careful examination of the bodies. Witness was of the opinion that shock was the cause of death in both cases. Death must have been instantaneous.

Second Lieut. Edwin Hamer Russell, R.F.C., gave evidence of identification. Capt. Annesley, who was 52 years of age, was a medical officer, and formerly practised in Ireland. Lieut. Beumont was 18 years of age. He joined the Royal Flying Corps direct from School, and was a qualified pilot. The type of machine in which he was killed he was accustomed to flying, and was considered a very good pilot. Witness took this machine up with Lieut. Beumont as passenger, doing two circuits and a landing. Lieut. Beumont then took the machine up himself with Dr. Annesley as passenger. He left the ground in a perfectly normal manner. This was the doctor’s first flight in an aeroplane.

An air mechanic, named Horace Willett Phillips, stated that at about 7.15 on Saturday evening, when on the road, he saw an aeroplane pass overhead at a height of about 400 feet. About a couple of minutes later the machine did a right bank, and after one complete turn, continued doing the right bank, which developed into a spinning nose dive. He heard the smash, and went to the scene. He found the pilot pinned under the wreckage and the doctor thrown clear of the machine. After the first turn he noticed the engine was throttled back.

Capt. P.W. Elliott said about a week ago he had occasion to speak to speak to Dr. Annesley about two officers suffering from neurasthenia.The doctor said it was very difficult for him to judge the effect of flying upon the nerves until one had personal experience. He asked if there would be any objection to him being taken up as a passenger, and witness replied there would be none, as he would be doing it in his official capacity. He then said he would take the first opportunity of a flight.

Major Orbon was of opinion that Lieut. Beumont stalled the machine, which developed into a spiral nose dive.

The jury recorded a verdict of “Accidental death”.

********

So doesn't sound like anyone from the family attended the coroners inquest There is no obvious probate calendar entry for him. If he was born in India or anywhere else in the Empire it wasn't to anyone serving serving in the armed forces or the British element of the colonial service as the General Registrars Office has no record of an armed forces or overseas birth. He doesn't turn up on the 1911 Census of England & Wales at the St. Lawrence College, although the age range catered for was 7 to 15 judging from the pupils recorded there. It doesn't appear to cater predominantly for children of parents overseas - there is one Swedish national, one Brazilian national, and one British Subject born North Borneo.

Nothing on Scotlands People, Irish Genealogy or familysearch (prior to his death). It would seem unlikely he'd served overseas - certainly not spotting a MiC for him.

Answers will probably lie in his officers long papers in the UK National Archive, but realise that may not be a practical option. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C1125339

I take it you have everything you need such as unit and plane from the casualty card. https://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/beaumont-c.l.-charles-leslie

Cheers,
Peter

 

Edited 24 February by PRC
Typo

[Perth Digger]

Many thanks, Peter, especially for the newspaper report that adds some useful snippets to the BNA reports. It never occurred to me to check the school material for 1911!

Mike