Thursday 27 March 2014

DUOTC Member on Arms and Intelligence gathering

An interesting witness statement from Sean (John Nelson) Beaumont who appears to have been a member of the Dublin University Officer  Training Corps (DUOTC). He appears to have got his brother involved in gathering intelligence from the Auxiliaries (ADRIC) and in an arms gathering operation

Sean Beaumont witness statement

Willie and Sean Beaumont have a short write up in a book called "Michael Collins and the Anglo Irish War : Britain's Counter Insurgency Failure" by J B E Hittle and also in "The Squad and the Intelligence Operations of Michael Collins" by T Ryle Dwyer.

Willie appears to have been openly anti-Sinn Fein originally until his encounter with Blacks and Tans. John/Sean was interested in the Irish language as well as left wing politics and edited a publication called "An t-Eireannach".

1901 Census - Beaumont boys

1911 Census - Beaumont family

Was Willie too young to be commissioned into the Army given the ages on the census?

London Gazette - 2nd Lt William Victor Beaumont commissioned

William Victor Beaumont was awarded the Military Cross :
London Gazette - William Victor Beaumont - For Gallantry

His Medal Index Card shows he started as a Private in the Leinster Regiment, number 2855 before being commissioned. His MIC doesn't list any WW1 campaign medals nor does it mention hi Military Cross.

William appears to have become a police inspector in Jamaica.

Another brother, Henry Foxton Beaumont, served in the British Army during WW1 as a Chaplain. Awarded the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.


Sean Beaumont's wife also submitted a witness statement

Mrs Maureen Beaumont (nee McGavock) witness statement

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