Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Major W. E. Beamish, Bedfordshire Regiment, Munster Fusiliers and North Nigeria Regiment, who having served during the Boer War, saw extensive patrol duty in the bush of North Nigeria pre and during the Great War. He was subsequently attached to the Egyptian Government and served as Political and Intelligence Officer in charge of the Western Desert Province, Red Sea, May 1918 - February 1920

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lieut: W. E. Beamish. Bedford: Rgt:); British War Medal 1914-20 (Major W. E. Beamish) nearly extremely fine (2) £400-£500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from an Africa Collection.

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Dix Noonan Webb, June 2014.

Warburton Edward Beamish was commissioned second lieutenant in the 4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment and his Officers File WO 339/8285 gives the following:

‘4th Bedfordshire Regiment. 5th Munster Fusiliers 1900. Served in South Africa in Mounted Infantry. Lagos Battalion West African Field Force took part in Kwali Ishan operations 1905-06. Commanded the Ivede Patrol 1907, served with the 2nd Nigeria Regiment during the last war in the Cameroon Expedition. Commanded Northern Okegeri operations in 1915. Assistant Keeper of Gaols Nigeria 1916. Commanded Oweri Nqurn patrol 1917. Was Officer Commanding troops Oweri Province 1916-17. Resigned my battalion August 1917 proceeded to E.E.F. and was attached for duty to Egyptian Government afterwards and was Political and Intelligence Officer in charge of the Western Desert Province Red Sea from May 1918 to February 1920.’

Beamish advanced to captain in September 1906, and to major in March 1918 (MIC gives ‘Theatre of War Africa August 1914 - medal issued 31 October 1922’, confirming sole entitlement to BWM). Reports for some of Beamish’s patrols are held, and details of one in particular for the Nguru Patrol which left Oweri, 18 November 1916, is revealing of his service:

‘On 20 November I [Beamish] took 20 Rank & File and one machine gun and proceeded to Afor Market which market the Onicha people had recently opened against the Government orders. On the way the column was fired on by Onicha people and the Political Officer then handed over to the Military: I immediately replied to their fire, but could not ascertain if there were any casualties owing to the thick under-bush and that they were running. On 25th November I left Camp at 4am with 40 Rank & File and a machine gun, going on information received that the Onicha people had a bush camp where they had all their stock collected. Got to the quarter just before dawn and found people there, but they evidently had scouts in the trees to give the warning, however I got into them and killed two. On 28 November I went out with 30 Rank & File to bush-camps of Onicha people who were reported to be in hiding, after an hours march I got into them and they fired on the troops and then ran. We returned fire and killed 17, several being hit, we got away. Total amount of ammunition expended to date is 524 rounds; number killed 20, but I feel sure that several more were hit in the bush but it is impossible to find them....’

Beamish was demobilised in June 1921, and resided in Perranporth, Cornwall. He died in Newton Abbot in September 1961.

Sold with copied research, including photographic image of recipient in later life.