Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Memorial: | Thiepval Memorial, Picardie | Pier & Face 9D | |
| 2. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.116 | |
| 3. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 27A GQS | |
Awards & Titles: | |||
Early Life :
Born and registered in Battersea, on of Mr. and Mrs. Edgar John Beard, of 98 Betterville Road, Battersea then 4, Geraldine Rd., Wandsworth, London, later of 94, Revelstoke Road, Wandsworth. Baptised at St. Michaels Church, Battersea, Surrey on the 8th December 1889.He had 4 siblings: Edgar (b.1884), Alfred (b.1886), Reginald Oliver (b.1904) and one which sadly died and not recorded against any census.
Family :
Probate record shows: BEARD, Harold Clifford of 2 Geraldine Road, Wandsworth, Surrey. Lieutenant, London Rifle Brigade. Died 8th October 1916 in France on active service. Probate administered 29th December to Edgar John Beard esquire. Effects £295 0s 1d.Education & Career :
Wandsworth School.
Stockjobber's Clerk (1911)
Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: 5th London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade) |
1/5th (City of London) Battalion (London Rifle Brigade) August 1914 : at 130 Bunhill Row. Part of 2nd London Brigade, 1st London Division. Moved on mobilisation to Bisley, going on in September to Crowborough. 5 November 1914 : left the Division and landed at Le Havre. 17 November 1914 : came under command of 11th Brigade in 4th Division. 19 May 1915 : transferred to GHQ Troops and formed a composite unit with 1/12th and 1/13th Bns. Resumed identity 11 August. 25 October 1915 : transferred to 8th Brigade in 3rd Division. 10 February 1916 : transferred to 169th Brigade in 56th (London) Division. |
| Action : The Battles of the Somme 1916 |
The Battle of the Somme 1st July - 18th November 1916 is inevitably characterised by the appalling casualties (60,000) on the first day, July 1st 1916. Having failed to break through the German lines in force, and also failed to maximise opportunities where success was achieved, the battle became a series of attritional assaults on well defended defence in depth. The battle continued officially until 18th November 1916 costing almost 500,000 British casualties. German casualties were about the same, and French about 200,000. The Somme could not be counted a success in terms of ground gained or the cost, but it had a strategic impact as it marked the start of the decline of the German Army. Never again would it be as effective whilst the British Army, learning from its experience eventually grew stronger to become a war winning army. The German High Command recognised that it could never again fight another Somme, a view that advanced the decision to invoke unrestricted submarine warfare in an attempt to starve Britain of food and material, and in doing so accelerated the United States declaration of war thus guaranteeing the eventual outcome. 287 Brethren were killed on the Somme in 1916.
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Cripplegate No. 1613 E.C. | London |
| Joined : | London Rifle Brigade No. 1962 E.C. | London |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
19th October 1915 | 16th November 1915 | 21st December 1915 |
Harold joined London Rifle Brigade Lodge No. 1962 in 1916, prior to his death. He is listed as a 2nd Lieut. in this Lodge and has the annotation "Killed in Action Oct 1916."
His brother Alfred was initiated, passed and raised on the same dates and they appear in Cripplegate Lodge's record consecutively.
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley