Bablake's Last Casualty
Private Reginald Thomas Beaufoy Royal Warwickshire Regiment & Norfolk Regiment
 1914-18 British War Medal. Victory Medal. |
 Reginald Beaufoy's Death Plaque |
The Man Reginald Thomas Beaufoy was born on Sunday 18th September 1898 in Lockhurst Lane, Coventry, son of Thomas an Engineer, Iron Planer and Lucy nee Marshall. He had one sister Alice Irene born in 1902.
By 1911, Reginald aged 12 was attending Bablake School school and living with his family and paternal Aunt, Ann Beaufoy, at 13 Holmsdale Road, Coventry. The family were members of the local Church in Station Street West and subsequently moved to ‘St. Keyne’ 39, Queen Mary’s Road, Coventry.
At the outbreak of World War I on 4th August 1914 Reginald was aged 16 and too young to enlist. However, in 1916 when conscription was introduced, he turned 18 in September and was called up some time after this, enlisting into the Royal Warwickshire Regiment with service number 57254 later transferring to the 1st Battalion Norfolk Regiment with a new service number 45073.
Reginald entered France in about June 1918 and was killed in Action on 8th November 1918 aged 20 in the 2nd Battle of the Sambre, three days before the Armistice was signed. Reginald was the last casualty on the Western Front from Bablake School and buried in Bachant Communal Cemetery, Northern France, in which there are only three other Commonwealth War Graves.
His name is recorded on the commemorative board at Bablake School, a stone plaque in Bethel Church, Station Street West, in Coventry's Roll of the Fallen and he had a plaque in his honour placed under a tree in Coventry’s War Memorial Park.
Reginald lost his life in the fighting on the 8th November, some 72 hours before the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11 month 1918. Three more days and he might have survived.
Reginald’s Father Thomas died in 1949, his Mother Lucy in 1956 and his Sister Alice in 1990 aged 88 and living at Victoria Court, Holyhead Road, Coventry.
By 1911, Reginald aged 12 was attending Bablake School school and living with his family and paternal Aunt, Ann Beaufoy, at 13 Holmsdale Road, Coventry. The family were members of the local Church in Station Street West and subsequently moved to ‘St. Keyne’ 39, Queen Mary’s Road, Coventry.
At the outbreak of World War I on 4th August 1914 Reginald was aged 16 and too young to enlist. However, in 1916 when conscription was introduced, he turned 18 in September and was called up some time after this, enlisting into the Royal Warwickshire Regiment with service number 57254 later transferring to the 1st Battalion Norfolk Regiment with a new service number 45073.
Reginald entered France in about June 1918 and was killed in Action on 8th November 1918 aged 20 in the 2nd Battle of the Sambre, three days before the Armistice was signed. Reginald was the last casualty on the Western Front from Bablake School and buried in Bachant Communal Cemetery, Northern France, in which there are only three other Commonwealth War Graves.
His name is recorded on the commemorative board at Bablake School, a stone plaque in Bethel Church, Station Street West, in Coventry's Roll of the Fallen and he had a plaque in his honour placed under a tree in Coventry’s War Memorial Park.
Reginald lost his life in the fighting on the 8th November, some 72 hours before the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11 month 1918. Three more days and he might have survived.
Reginald’s Father Thomas died in 1949, his Mother Lucy in 1956 and his Sister Alice in 1990 aged 88 and living at Victoria Court, Holyhead Road, Coventry.
 Reginald Beaufoy's War Grave Bachant Cemetery France. |
Reginald's Tree, Coventry Memorial park November 2020, minus plaque.
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The Story The medals awarded to Reginald Thomas Beaufoy were acquired following a presentation at Leamington Spa RAF Association about medals in 2010. A sister-in-law of one of the members had located Reginald’s medals as he had been her husband’s nephew and she was happy to part with them and see them ‘go to a ‘good home’.
Initial research revealed that Trevor Harkin, a Coventry historian had already undertaken a lot of work on many Coventrians who had been killed in World War I and had itemised the numerous plaques within Coventry’s War Memorial Park. He had also written three books and Reginald featured in one of them, Bablake School and the Great War, albeit briefly. Sadly, a check of the park in 2010 revealed that Reginald’s plaque was one of the few missing. The usual Ancestry.UK searches allowed a little more detail to be added and odd google searches some years later revealed two War Memorial plaques bearing Reginald’s name, one at Bablake School in Coventry the other in the Bethel New Life Apostolic Church, Station Street West, Foleshill, Coventry.
Little further detail has been revealed, but that is often the way with one who died so young. Reginald’s name is however remembered not only on the war memorials, but thanks to the like of Trevor Harkin. However see the postscript below.
Initial research revealed that Trevor Harkin, a Coventry historian had already undertaken a lot of work on many Coventrians who had been killed in World War I and had itemised the numerous plaques within Coventry’s War Memorial Park. He had also written three books and Reginald featured in one of them, Bablake School and the Great War, albeit briefly. Sadly, a check of the park in 2010 revealed that Reginald’s plaque was one of the few missing. The usual Ancestry.UK searches allowed a little more detail to be added and odd google searches some years later revealed two War Memorial plaques bearing Reginald’s name, one at Bablake School in Coventry the other in the Bethel New Life Apostolic Church, Station Street West, Foleshill, Coventry.
Little further detail has been revealed, but that is often the way with one who died so young. Reginald’s name is however remembered not only on the war memorials, but thanks to the like of Trevor Harkin. However see the postscript below.
Postscript In November 2020, 10 years after the acquisition of Reginald Thomas Beaufoy’s medals, a random google search revealed Reginald was commemorated on a plaque inside what is now Bethel New Life Apostolic Church, formerly a Methodist Church on Station Street West in Coventry, not far from his home address in Queen Mary’s Road.
During Lockdown II it was decided to visit the Church and Queen Mary’s Road for photographs and re-visit Coventry War Memorial Park for the same purpose and to see if his plaque had been replaced.
Sadly, the tree and concrete plinth minus the plaque were still the same, 10 years after the first visit. An e mail was sent to Coventry City Council and Trevor Harkin to enquire if it was still possible to have a new plaque installed, but no response was received from either.
However, on 19th January 2021 an e mail was received via the web site from Bob Bristow a ‘Friend of Coventry War Memorial Park’, who advised he was researching the missing plaques in the park with a view to them all being replaced and paid for by Coventry City Council in time for the park’s centenary on 9th July.
There followed an exchange of e mails and Reginald Beaufoy’s biography was provided for the centenary and to be placed on his tree over the weekend.
In April 2021 Bob advised the plaques were ready, which enabled a further visit to the park and photographs to be taken of the new plaque, before, during and after the attachment to its new plinth and to help with its placement in front of ‘Reginald’s Tree’.
A great way to feel a small part of Reginald’s story, although all credit must go to Bob Bristow and his sub-committee for dedicating themselves, using Trevor Harkin’s original map of the park as the starting point, for identifying, ordering and replacing all of the missing or damaged plaques and for obtaining the grant to do so from Coventry City Council.
On Monday 8th November 2021 at 1100h, a short service of dedication was held at Reginald’s tree. The service was conducted by Pastor Andre Codnor of Bethel New Life Apostolic Church and a wreath laid by Tony Barker, who was responsible for the acquisition of the medals back in 2010 and Bob Bristow, responsible for the new plaque. In attendance were guests and the Coventry Standard Bearers. The Last Post was played by Sergeant Ian Bode of West Midlands Police. A moving and fitting tribute to Reginald 103 years and 3 hours after his death.
Reginald's plaque has been visited and a poppy cross laid on each subsequent 8th November at 1100h to date.
During Lockdown II it was decided to visit the Church and Queen Mary’s Road for photographs and re-visit Coventry War Memorial Park for the same purpose and to see if his plaque had been replaced.
Sadly, the tree and concrete plinth minus the plaque were still the same, 10 years after the first visit. An e mail was sent to Coventry City Council and Trevor Harkin to enquire if it was still possible to have a new plaque installed, but no response was received from either.
However, on 19th January 2021 an e mail was received via the web site from Bob Bristow a ‘Friend of Coventry War Memorial Park’, who advised he was researching the missing plaques in the park with a view to them all being replaced and paid for by Coventry City Council in time for the park’s centenary on 9th July.
There followed an exchange of e mails and Reginald Beaufoy’s biography was provided for the centenary and to be placed on his tree over the weekend.
In April 2021 Bob advised the plaques were ready, which enabled a further visit to the park and photographs to be taken of the new plaque, before, during and after the attachment to its new plinth and to help with its placement in front of ‘Reginald’s Tree’.
A great way to feel a small part of Reginald’s story, although all credit must go to Bob Bristow and his sub-committee for dedicating themselves, using Trevor Harkin’s original map of the park as the starting point, for identifying, ordering and replacing all of the missing or damaged plaques and for obtaining the grant to do so from Coventry City Council.
On Monday 8th November 2021 at 1100h, a short service of dedication was held at Reginald’s tree. The service was conducted by Pastor Andre Codnor of Bethel New Life Apostolic Church and a wreath laid by Tony Barker, who was responsible for the acquisition of the medals back in 2010 and Bob Bristow, responsible for the new plaque. In attendance were guests and the Coventry Standard Bearers. The Last Post was played by Sergeant Ian Bode of West Midlands Police. A moving and fitting tribute to Reginald 103 years and 3 hours after his death.
Reginald's plaque has been visited and a poppy cross laid on each subsequent 8th November at 1100h to date.
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Reginald Thomas Beaufoy's plaque replaced at his tree in Coventry War Memorial Park April 2021
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Reginald Beaufoy's World War 1 Medal Index Card
Coventry Evening Telegraph 19th November 1918
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39 Queen Mary's Road, Foleshill, Coventry. November 2020
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Bethel New Life Church, Station Street West, Coventry
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Bablake School, Coventry
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City of Coventry's Roll of the Fallen 1914-18
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Service of dedication, 8th November 2021
Click here for photographs of Coventry War Memorial Park Rededication Ceremony 9th July 2021 - “Courtesy of Coventry City Council/Mark Radford Photography.”
Alice Irene Beaufoy 1902 - 1990. Thomas' Sister
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Mrs Jo Millward with Reginald Thomas Beaufoy's Medals September 2010
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During one of the visits to the Coventry War Memorial Park in April 2021, eight plaques were ‘rescued’ from being disposed of, these having been damaged and removed from their original plinths and on the list to replace. It seemed a pity to not retain these original plaques for posterity as they had been in place since about 1925, 96 years!
The eight plaques were named to:
Each of these men have been researched in the same way as if their medals were held and for their stories click on each name, all of course having a Coventry connection and being inextricably linked with Reginald Beaufoy.
The eight plaques were named to:
- Gunner Herbert Charles Collingbourne. 1/1st Warwick Royal Horse Artillery
- Private Laurence Matthew Windridge. 2nd Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment
- Lance Corporal Sydney James Riley. 7th Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment. Died 12th October 1917 aged 20. Commemorated on Tyne Cott Memorial
- Gunner Harvey Michael Gillingham. Royal Artillery.
- Bombardier Jack England. Royal Artillery
- Trooper Hugh O Hopkins. Warwickshire Yeomanry
- Pilot Officer James Burdett Thompson. Royal Air Force
- Flying Officer Frederick Bruce Keene Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Each of these men have been researched in the same way as if their medals were held and for their stories click on each name, all of course having a Coventry connection and being inextricably linked with Reginald Beaufoy.
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The 'rescued' Coventry War Memorial Plaques
Medal Details:
- 1914-18 British War Medal: 52754 PTE. R.T.BEAUFOY. R.WAR.R
- Victory Medal: 52754 PTE. R.T.BEAUFOY. R.WAR.R
- Death Plaque: REGINALD THOMAS BEAUFOY
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This page last updated 24 Nov 23
