Douglas Harvey (Great War), Merton Beckwith-Smith (Second World War), 30 officers 774 NCOs & men
of the Grenadier Guards (Great War). Falkland Islands Cross 1982 (Falklands War)

Location: Brookwood Cemetery (Guards Chapel), Pirbright Army Camp, Surrey

Sincere thanks to Margaret’s sons friend Dave who asked the padre if they could have access to the chapel and photograph the crosses. Many thanks to the Padre for his consent.

CROSS 1

Details on cross:

on shaft

HERE
LIES

on cross member

LIEUT D. HARVEY
2nd Bn GRENADIER GUARDS
KILLED IN ACTION
on shaft MARCH 28
1918

Text type (e.g. hand-written, GRU tags, carved):1 GRU tag at top of shaft left hand screw missing. White painted with black lettering
Cross dimensions (millimetres please) Substantial cross but unable to measure

Other information
Mounting to wall: Attached to a hook on the wall, a small plinth on the top of the shaft and at either end of the cross member.
Detailing:
Evidence of use in field (earth marking, cracking, staining, shrinkage): Cross is pointed at the end, dark shading, paint worn, rough wood.
Surface insertion depth (into ground if apparent): up to 380mm
Finish (varnish, paint, oiled, unfinished etc): white painted fading slightly around cross member
Condition (cracked, paint peeling, woodwork, damage etc): Good condition.

Other information, notes and observations:
Lieut Douglas Harvey was killed in action on 28.3.18,but on grave registration form on C.W.G.C. site as 27.3.18, he was age 23 and is buried at Bucquoy Road Cemetery, Ficheux, France Pas de Calais. Grave ref V1.A.12. He was the son of George Alexander Harvey. He was Exhumed and reburied on 4.9.19. The cross is on the right hand side as you enter the chapel. Above the cross is a Union Flag. Next to the cross is a framed detail sheet :- “Douglas harvey was commissioned into the Grenadier Guards on 16 January 1916 and joined the 2nd Battalion on 23 January 1916. Apart from a temporary attachment to 180 Tunnelling Company RE, he served with the 2nd Battalion until 27 march 1918, when while stationed in the line near Moyenneville, he was killed by a German shell. All war graves are initially marked by a temporary cross which is later replaced by a carved headstone. This wooden cross, which originally marked Lieutenant Harvey’s grave, was preserved over many years and eventually laid up for safe keeping in this church on 28 March 1976”

CROSS 2.

This is a second world war cross.

Details on cross:

On Cross member

MAJ GEN. M.B. BECKWITH-SMITH
18/. DIV. H.Q.
11.11.42

Text type (e.g. hand-written, GRU tags, carved ) Black painted lettering
Cross dimensions (millimetres please) Substantial cross but unable to measure.

Other information
Mounting to wall: Set in a small shelf attached to the wall
Detailing:
Evidence of use in field (earth marking, cracking, staining, shrinkage): none visible
Surface insertion depth (into ground if apparent): No signs of cross being in the ground.
Finish (varnish, paint, oiled, unfinished etc): white painted fading slightly around cross member
Condition (cracked, paint peeling, woodwork, damage etc): Good condition, paint fading on cross member.

Other information, notes and observations:
Major-General Merton Beckwith-Smith DSO MC MA was born on the 11th July 1890, He was educated at Eton & Oxford, in 1910 he was commissioned into the Coldstream Guards and served with them throughout the first world war. In 1930 he transferred to the Welsh Guards. Sent to France as part of the BEF 39/40. Evacuated from Dunkirk. He landed at Singapore in early 1942. Singapore was surrendered on 15th Feb. 1942 and in Aug 1942 he was moved to Formosa (now Taiwan) along with General Percival and all senior officers from Singapore. On 11th Nov 1942 he died of diphtheria in Karenko concentration camp he was 52. In 1946 I.W.G.C. exhumed and reburied all Taiwan POW’s in Sai Wan Bay War Cemetery, Hong Kong. Next to the cross is a framed information sheet stating that “ The wooden cross was carved by fellow prisoners of war in his memory. The cross was given to the Regiment by his widow and is to be kept permanently in this church. The laying up of the cross took place on Sunday 27th Feb. 1977”
He was the father of Princess Diana’s-lady-in waiting and she requested to see his grave when on a visit to Hong Kong.

Cross 3.

This is an Original Somme cross

Details on cross.

Down the shaft

TO
THE
MEMORY
OF
on cross member 30 OFFICERS 774 NCO s & MEN
of the
GRENADIER GUARDS

on shaft WHO FELL
IN
ACTION
SEPT
1916

Text type (e.g. hand-written, GRU tags, carved): Beautifully Carved lettering
Cross dimensions (millimetres please) Celtic style cross unable to measure.

Other information
Mounting to wall: Screwed to the wall, a small plinth on the top of the shaft and at either end of the cross member.
Detailing:
Evidence of use in field (earth marking, cracking, staining, shrinkage) No evidence of use in field see detail sheet.

Surface insertion depth (into ground if apparent)
Finish (varnish, paint, oiled, unfinished etc): Dark stained, varnished.
Condition (cracked, paint peeling, woodwork, damage etc): Good condition.

Other information notes and observations:
There is a framed information sheet next to the cross. “ THE SOMME CROSS” Immediately after the battle of the somme the Commanding Officer of the 2nd Battalion —Lieutenant Colonel C. R. C. de Crespigny, D.S.O. -ordered the Battalion Pioneer Sergeant to make an erect a cross in remembrance and honour of the 28 (30) Officers and 700 other Ranks of the Regiment who were killed. The village of SAILLISEL had been completely churned into the ground and from the largest mound (once the village church) some suitable timber was found with which to make the cross. The cross was simply inscribed and erected about twenty yards in front of the trench from which the Battalion launched their attack before LESBOEUFS on the 25th September . In March 1918 the ground was recaptured by the Germans. After the retreat of the enemy later that year, a party from the 2nd Battalion made a visit to the area and found that the Germans had carefully cared for the cross and had even repainted it. When in 1923 a permanent Cross was re-erected the original was brought and erected between the Company blocks of the Regiment at the guards Depot, Caterham. In 1953 the Cross was found to be in an unsound state and it was removed into the Company stores. Experts were called to inspect it and it was then discovered that the wood was at least a thousand years old. The cross was then repaired and eventually was placed in the Chapel of the Guards Depot.

CROSS 4

Falkland Islands Cross 1982. Wayne Tarbard and Andrew McIlvenny by name.

Wayne Tarbard and Andrew McIlvenny of 9 Parachute Squadron, Royal Engineers who died aboard Sir Galahad are both remembered on brass plaques on this cross.

Details on cross: on shaft No details on shaft or on cross member
on cross member Below the cross member is a shield with a regimental badge of the Welsh Guards with some poppies. Further down the shaft are two brass plaques to two members of the 9 Parachute Squadron killed in action aboard RFA Sir Galahad 8th June 1982.

Text type (e.g. hand-written, GRU tags, carved):No writing or tags on cross
Cross dimensions (millimetres please) Large cross but unable to measure

Other information
Mounting to wall: Nailed to wall nail in cross member through shaft.
Evidence of use in field (earth marking, cracking, staining, shrinkage): bottom of shaft darkened , discoloured

Surface insertion depth (into ground if apparent): approximately 300mm
Finish (varnish, paint, oiled, unfinished etc): Doesn’t appear any finish on cross looks like natural colouring.
Condition (cracked, paint peeling, woodwork, damage etc): In good condition appears rough hand made cross possibly from some tree branches, rounded and grooved where bark possibly stripped.

Other information, notes and observations:
There is a framed information sheet Falkland Islands 1982 “This temporary Regimental memorial Cross was erected by members of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards in June 1982 at Fitzroy Cove, Falkland Islands in memory of the 38 Welsh Guardsmen and attached Soldiers who died as a result of the Sir Galahad incident on the 8th June 1982.

Sincere thanks to my sons friend Dave who asked the padre if they could have access to the chapel and photograph the crosses. Many thanks to the Padre for his consent.

Limited access, strictly by appointment.

Survey Margaret Draycott, photos Philip Draycott
Date of survey:11.11.2016