| Surname: | Beavis |
| Initials: | L |
| Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Army Number: | P/4097 |
| Notes: | MMP. Awarded the 1914 Star, Victory and War Medals. First served abroad (1) France, 15/8/1914 to 12/12/15 and 27/1/17. Formerly Pte. 12 Lancers. No. 1288. 22/9/16 transferred to MMP. Extract from the Western Times 14 April 1916. Marriages. BEAVIS - DACOSTA. - At St. Paul's Parish Church, Corporal L. B. Beavis, late of the 12th (Prince of Wales's) Royal Lancers attached Military Mounted Police, to Nellie, second daughter of Mrs. Dacosta. Extract from the Western Times 5 May 1939. Broadhempston Police Constable Retires. Police Constable Beavis, who has been stationed at Broadhempston for nine years, retired on Saturday. During his long stay in the village, he became well known over a wide district; he has made many friends who will wish him happy years in his retirement. JOINED UP AT 15. When he was 15 years and 3 months old he put on his age and joined the Army enlisting in the 12th Prince of Wales Royal Lancers in 1905. After serving in India and Africa, he came home and joined the Devon Constabulary at Exeter im May 1913 and was stationed at Ilfracombe, Hetherleigh, Statiscombe, Yelverton and Seaton. Whilst stationed at the latter the Great War broke out and he rejoined his former regiment at Norwich on August 5th, 1914, crossed to France the following day and took part in the first battle of Mons on the 23rd. After fighting in the battle of Le Cateau and the first battle of Ypres he was severely frost bitten in the trenches and was invalided home early in 1915. A period of convalescence followed and he was transferred to the Military Mounted Police, joining the 32nd Division in France at Beaumont Hamel, on the Somme, the 1st July 1916. He saw service at the second battle of Ypres, Vimy ridge, Passchendaele Ridge and afterwards relieved the Belgians an Nieuport, where on one occasion his horse was blown from under him. He took part at the latter end of the war in the capture of the Hindenburg line and left his regiment at Cologne after the signing of the Armistice. He returned to England and recommenced his duties with the Devon Constabulary, temporarily at Dawlish. For his war service PC Beavis was mentioned in despatches and was awarded the Mons Star. PECULIAR SOUVENIR. As a souvenir he has a postcard that he made from the wing fabric of the first German Airplane to be shot down, which he sent home to his parents, the postmarks still showing distinctly September 29th 1914. He also has Fabric of a German bomber which was brought down near Nieuport. From Dawlish he was stationed as police constable at Sampford Peverell, Bratton, Clovelly and finally Broadhempston. He has been a regular reader of the "Western Times" for several years. |