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Cenotaph record

Beckham Arthur

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  • Service number
    • South African 1383 AWMM
    • WWI 111 AWMM
    • WWI = 111 Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 30 June 2015 - Family Information Re: Rae O'Connor
    • WWI = WO 339/37746 Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 6 July 2015 - http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse/r/h/C1091645
  • Also known as
    Beckham Paikawa ARTHUR Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 30 June 2015 - Family Information Re: Rae O'Connor
  • Armed force / branch
    • NZ Mounted Rifles (Rough Riders) Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 8 June 2015 - Military Record
    • British Machine Gun Corps. Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 6 July 2015 - http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse/r/h/C1091645
  • Last rank
  • War
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South African War Memorial, on a wall near RSA entranceway, Gisborne. "Volunteers from Poverty Bay who served in the Sth African War 1899-1902". Image kindly provided by Paul Baker (December 2008). Image has no known copyright restrictions.

South African War Memorial, on a wall near RSA entranceway, Gisborne. "Volunteers from Poverty Bay w …

Identity

About

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  • Title
    • Captain Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 8 June 2015 - Military Record
    • WWI = Sergeant promoted through to Lt/Major Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 30 June 2015 - Family Information Re: Rae O'Connor
    • WWI = Lieutenant Colonel Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 6 July 2015 - http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse/r/h/C1091645
  • Forenames
    Beckham AWMM
  • Surname
    Arthur AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
    Beckham Paikawa ARTHUR Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 30 June 2015 - Family Information Re: Rae O'Connor
  • Service number
    • South African 1383 AWMM
    • WWI 111 AWMM
    • WWI = 111 Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 30 June 2015 - Family Information Re: Rae O'Connor
    • WWI = WO 339/37746 Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 6 July 2015 - http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse/r/h/C1091645
  • Gender
    • Male AWMM
    • Male Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 8 June 2015 - Military Record
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion
    Prebyterian Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 8 June 2015 - Military Record

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
  • Date of birth
    1876 Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 8 June 2015 - Research
  • Place of birth
    Tokomaru Bay Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 8 June 2015 - Research
  • Birth notes
    son of Alexander Creighton Arthur & Mere Inoi nee' Ward of Tokomaru Bay & Gisborne Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 8 June 2015 - Research
  • Address before enlistment
    • South African Te Hapara, Gisborne AWMM
    • mother - c/- Mrs Mere Arthur, Te Hapara, Gisborne Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 8 June 2015 - Military Record
  • Post war occupation
    Lived in England Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 8 June 2015 - Newspaper Report
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    Parents - Mr A C & M Arthur of Gisborne Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 8 June 2015 - Military Record
  • Relationship status
    single Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 8 June 2015 - Military Record

Service

Wars and conflicts

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  • War
  • Campaign
  • Armed force / branch
    • NZ Mounted Rifles (Rough Riders) Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 8 June 2015 - Military Record
    • British Machine Gun Corps. Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 6 July 2015 - http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse/r/h/C1091645
  • Service number
    • South African 1383 AWMM
    • WWI 111 AWMM
    • WWI = 111 Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 30 June 2015 - Family Information Re: Rae O'Connor
    • WWI = WO 339/37746 Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 6 July 2015 - http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse/r/h/C1091645
  • Military service
    • 4th & 9th Contingents Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 8 June 2015 - Military Record
    • 1900-1902 Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 8 June 2015 - Military Record
    • WWI = 1913-1922 Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 6 July 2015 - http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse/r/h/C1091645
  • Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers

Military decorations

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Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
  • Occupation before enlistment
    farmer Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 8 June 2015 - Military Record
  • Age on enlistment
    23 yrs 10 mths Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 8 June 2015 - Military Record

Embarkations

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Prisoner of war

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  • Capture details
  • Days interned
  • Liberation date
  • Liberation Repatriation
  • POW liberation details
  • POW serial number

Medical history

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  • Medical notes

Last known rank

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Biographical information

Biographical information

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    • War Record of Lieut. Colonel Beckham ARTHUR # 339/37746 are available on this site
      http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse/r/h/C1091645
      WO 339/37746 1913-1922 - Lieutenant Colonel Beckham ARTHUR. - Machine Gun Corps. Public - Rae - Other Relative - 5 July 2015 - Military file.
    • Full name was Beckham Paikawa Arthur. Paikawa being his Warrior Name. YES he was Maori fighting in Africa 1900 and 1902 . First World War. Lieut-Colonel November 1918 to Command the 1st Motor Brigade Machine Gun Corps. Wounded at Loos September, 1915. Awarded a Distinguished Service Order and Mentioned in Despatches (x 3).
      Raewyn O'Connor
      Posted: 25 Apr 2015

      Great Uncle Beckham left Gisborne in 1899 to join the 4th Contingent, He went back again in the 9th. Stayed in England after Boar War. Wrote home to his Mother. With the First World War, © King Edwards Horse | Contact Peter Nemaric
      First Name LastName Regt No Origin Rank Remarks
      Beckham Arthur 111 New Zealand Sgt
      Gazetted as 2nd Lieutenant in March 1915, and posted to Motor Machine Gun Service at Bisley. Promoted Captain June 1915, Major March 1916 and Lieut-Colonel November 1918 to Command the 1st Motor Brigade Machine Gun Corps. Wounded at Loos September, 1915. Awarded a Distinguished Service Order and Mentioned in Despatches (x 3).

      Distinguished Service Order LG 26 July 1918. Major Beckham Arthur For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when handling his motor machine-gun battery during a defence and the subsequent withdrawal. It was largely due to his action that two battalions of infantry were enabled to carry out a successful retirement, for his guns inflicted heavy losses on the enemy and materially held up their advance.
      Note
      Hist 60, App H.
      Beckham Arthur was born and grew up in Tokomaru Bay, where he rode his horses with my Great Grandfather, his older brother. He was a Rough Rider in the Boar War. Letters home describing a battle. Amazing!
      VERY PROUD, UNCLE BECKHAM. 1876-1922 Aged just 46.
      Written By his Great Niece - Raewyn O'Connor Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 6 July 2015 - http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/soldier/beckham-arthur
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    1922 AWMM
    Devon, England AWMM
  • Date of death
    1922 Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 9 June 2015 - Free BMD website
  • Age at death
    46 yrs Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 9 June 2015 - Free BMD website
  • Place of death
    Totnes, Devon, England Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 9 June 2015 - Free BMD website
  • Cause of death
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
    Paignton Cemetery England AWMM
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name
    War Memorial Theatre, 159 Bright Street, Gisborne AWMM

Roll of Honour

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Sources

Sources

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Contributors

Command item
Command item
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DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
22 January 2019JanetAucklandResearcher
07 August 2015Lorraine MGisborne, NZResearcher
05 July 2015RaeAucklandOther Relative

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