Regimental Sergeant Major John Beard Scots Guards

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Gloucester Citizen - Wednesday 19 April 1933

Posts : 604 Join date : 2013-05-07 Location : Brecon

Following the disaster at Isandlwana, Zululand on 22nd January 1879, an urgent request went out to rest of the Army for volunteers to reconstitute 1st Battalion 24th Regiment for 612 men of 24th Regiment killed on that fateful day. Volunteers were promised that they would have the option of transferring to 24th Regiment or returning their parent regiment at the conclusion of the Zulu campaign. On 1st March 1879, a ship transport ‘Clyde’ left Woolwich with draft of 534 volunteers under command Colonel Henry Davies, Grenadier Guards, for South Africa. [The names of these soldiers are listed on pay and muster rolls WO16/1573].

The draft included a number of officers and men from Brigade of Guards. The names of these men also appear on the subsequent South Africa medal roll.

Colonel Henry Fanshawe DAVIES, Grenadier Guards, Officer Commanding the Draft
Captain Sir William GORDON-CUMMING Bart, Scots Guards
Captain The Hon Richard Southwell George STAPLETON-COTTON, Scots Guards, Adjutant the Draft
Captain The Hon George Aubrey Vere BERTIE, Coldstream Guards, attached OC E Company 1/24th
Lieutenant The Hon Rupert Clement George CARINGTON, Grenadier Guards, Acting Adjutant 1/24th
Lieutenant The Hon Charles Robert William COLVILLE, Grenadier Guards, attached OC C Company 1/24th
Lieutenant William Dent Mountjoy Cecil Phillips FARRER, Grenadier Guards

3564 CSgt R PAYNE, 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards
3054 Sgt (Orderly Room Clerk) Thomas PEMBERTON, 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards
2532 Sgt John BEARD, 1st Battalion Scots Guards
2359 Sgt IM Elijah Britain DREDGE, 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, transferred to 1/24th as 25B/2880
1726 Sgt Adam RICHARDSON, 2nd Battalion Scots Guards
2941 Sgt William JOHNSON, 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards
4579 Sgt Robert McFEETERS, 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards, appointed Sergeant Major 1/24th
4841 Pte James SHORE, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards
4752 Pte Henry TAYLOR, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards
4834 Pte Edgar VAUGHAN, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards
3696 Pte Henry GUNNING, 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards
3288 Pte George COWAN, 1st Battalion Scots Guards
2391 Pte George GRAY, (or GREY) 1st Battalion Scots Guards
868 Pte David LYON, 1st Battalion Scots Guards.

John Beard's son, Randolph Beard MBE DCM MM, who is mention in text of the newspaper cutting, served in the Grenadier Guards from 1906-1945.

Posts : 3463 Join date : 2021-01-04

Outstanding Kenny. Very interesting thank you Salute

One to be moved to the 'History Forgot' section Pete

Posts : 3381 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

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Posts : 604 Join date : 2013-05-07 Location : Brecon

His son Randolph was a very respected RSM in Grenadier Guards in WW1 DCM and MM later commissioned as a Quartermaster. Served 1906 to 1945. I personally know his grandson - or John Beard’s great grandson.

Posts : 3463 Join date : 2021-01-04

Great stuff.
I appreciate he may have already seen it but if not I hope he finds the above newspaper article interesting.(its why I'm posting these up)

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