Beer, HO
(1895 - 1915)
Key Facts
DATE OF BIRTH:
8th July 1895
YEARS ATTENDED THE COLLEGE:
1908 - 1914
HOME ADDRESS WHEN AT THE COLLEGE:
The White House (48 Oakwood Avenue?), Beckenham
REGIMENT
8th Battalion, The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment
FINAL RANK:
2nd Lieutenant
DATE OF DEATH:
25th September 1915
AGE AT DEATH:
20
WHERE HE DIED (or was wounded)
near Hulluch, Loos
LOCATION OF GRAVE OR MEMORIAL:
Loos Memorial. Panel 95 to 97.
2nd Lieutenant Henry Oliver Beer
Henry was born on July 8th 1895, the son of a bullion broker who was also named Henry Beer. During his time at Dulwich he was a boarder in Blew House and, in 1911, he earned himself a Senior Scholarship. After leaving the College he had intended to take a place at Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge, however, as it was the summer of 1914, war was to get in the way.
Henry volunteered almost at once upon the declaration, being granted a commission in the Royal West Kents in September 1914, although he and his battalion were not to go out to France for almost a year. In late August 1915 they were sent to the front for the first time; less than a month later he was dead, killed whilst leading his platoon against a German position at the Battle of Loos on September 25th 1915. That day saw not only the death of Henry, but also of eight other OAs, making it the worst day for the College, in terms of losses, of the entire war.
