Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Charles Henry Beaumont was born 1882 at West Moor, Northumberland the eldest son and one of 5 known children, 2 sons and 3 daughters. His father Robert Beaumont native of Houghton-le-Spring County Durham born 1860 married Isabella Elliott born at Heworth in1865, at St. Nicholas Newcastle-upon-Tyne, May 20th 1882. In 1891 they were living at Havelock Street, Heworth, Robert was employed as a miner, unfortunately he died in 1904. His mother remarried in 1907, at Gateshead, to John Burke.
Charles Henry married at Gateshead in 1906 Elizabeth Hannah Wilson. She gave birth to 5 children of whom only 4 survived, eldest daughter Mary Jane died aged 3 years in 1912. in 1911 the family were living at 53, Devonshire Street, Gateshead, Charles Henry was employed as a coal miner/hewer.
When war broke out in 1914 Charles Henry and his family were resident at Newburn, he enlisted at Ryton-On-Tyne and was assigned as Private 2144 to the 1st/9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry. After spending a few weeks digging trenches at South Shields, the battalion’s part-time volunteer soldiers, formed into four companies, were trained at Ravensworth, Boldon, and Newcastle for full-time active service overseas. The main body of the regiment had departed in 1914, Private Beaumont was part of the draft that left Newcastle railway station April 19th 1915, arriving in France the following day. Within days, they were fighting in the Second Battle of Ypres, suffering casualties from shelling and gas attacks on the Frezenberg and Bellewaarde ridges, but the battalion was spared the heavy losses suffered by the other Durham Territorial battalions. Whilst in the field some of the experienced miners were sent, on loan, to the Royal Engineers, Private Beaumont spent time with the 7th Field Company attached to the 50th Division and the 171st Tunnelling Company both branches were deployed during 1915 until August 1916 in Belgium. Returned to his battalion as of August 1916 attached to the 151st Brigade 50th (Northumbrian) Division they moved from the trenches of the Ypres salient south to join the fighting on the Somme. During September and October 1916 the 1/9th D.L.I. attacked towards the Starfish Line, north of High Wood and the Flers-Courcelette Line at Eaucort L’Abbaye.
Private 2144 Charles Henry Beaumont Durham Light Infantry was killed in action September 15th 1916 and is at rest grave VIII. C. II. Adanac Military Cemetery, Miraumont, Somme, France. He was 35 years old.
His widow received all monies due to him, a pension for herself and their 4 children and his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at Flat 14, Lordship Grove, Stoke Newington, London.
His mother Isabella Burke-Beaumont nee Elliott died in 1945 aged 80 years at Gateshead, County Durham. Details of Charles Henry and Elizabeth’s children; Robert born at Felling in 1907, Henry in 1910, and Isabella in 1913, deaths unknown, Mary Elizabeth Beaumont born October 19th 1915 at Newburn, County Durham died in 2004. Elizabeth Hannah Beaumont nee Wilson does not appear to have remarried, details of demise, unknown.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
His death was reported in Heslop's Local Advertiser 17/11/1916:
"Private Charles H. Beaumont, D.L.I., killed in action, Sept. 15th, aged 35 years. Son of Isabella Burke and the late Robert Beaumont, and step-son of John Burke, of 7 Thomas Street, Felling."
"Pte. Chas. H. Beaumont, whose name appears in our Roll of Honour, came of a well-known Seaton Burn family, his grandfather being the late Mr. Joseph Elliott, a prominent Methodist leader in that district. Mrs. Burke, Pte. Beaumont's mother, would be best known to our readers as Mrs. Beaumont, who represented Messrs. A. & G. Taylor, photographers in this district for many years. The deceased soldier took an active interest in Labour politics prior to the war. He leaves a widow and four young children."
Charles Beaumont is remembered on R33.01and R33.02
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrancepage 244
