Robert Harvey Beaufoy

Story:
Robert Harvey Beaufoy was born at Coombe House, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, on 8 Oct 1896 and baptised at St. John the Baptist Church, Charlton, Donhead St. Mary, on 19 Nov 1896 the son of Mark Hanbury Beaufoy, a Vinegar Distiller, and Mildred Scott Beaufoy (nee Tait).  He spent all his early life in and around the environs of Coombe House, until by 1911 he was attending Repton School, Repton, Derbyshire, as a Scholar/Boarder.  He had taken part in the Officer Training Corps whilst at the school and held the rank of Cadet Sergeant.  At the outbreak of war he enlisted with the 17th (County of London) Battalion of the London Regiment (The Poplar and Stepney Rifles) being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on 13 Oct 1914.  He served in Palestine as well as France and Flanders during which time he was awarded the Military Cross, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Territorial Force Efficiency Medal as well as being mentioned in dispatches.   At the end of the conflict he also received the Victory and British War Medals along with the 1914/15 Star.  He had taken employment as an Art Studio Manager during which time he married Edna Irene May Crisp on 6 Oct 1920 at St. Peter's Church, Cranley Gardens, Kensington, London.  They went on to have one son, Michael Henry Beaufoy in 1922.  Robert had set up home at 3 Prince of Wales Mansions, Battersea, London, and regrettably died there on 24 Dec 1925.  His son had served with the Royal Air Force in the second world war and was killed in action on 9 Jun 1942 whilst fly as Observer in a Blenheim bomber of Bomber Command.   Robert's brother, George Maurice Beaufoy, had served with the YMCA in WW1 but was himself killed by a bomb in WW2 on 17 Apr 1941.