In memoriam

Captain Charles Beauclerk Despard, DSO, MC, MID

 

 

 

Charles Beauclerk Despard was born on 31 December 1880 at Woodleigh, Cultra, County Down, the last of four children of English-born land agent William Francis Despard and his wife Mary (née Hunt), daughter of Colonel Arthur Hunt of the Royal Artillery.

Educated at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution, on 3 January 1900 Despard enlisted in the 46th (Belfast) Company, 13th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry (No.9364). He gave his age as 20 (he was 19) and his occupation as a farmer. He embarked for South Africa on 3 March where, two months later, he was among the 400 men captured by Boer forces at Lindley.

Following his release, on 1 April 1901 Despard was commissioned as a lieutenant and posted to the 74th Company, 8th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry. He was mentioned in despatches in 1901:

... for excellent work when extricating a convoy from a difficult situation near Griquatown, Cape Colony, on 24 August 1901.

 

A group of Boer War officers, Despard front row far left, from The Sphere, 15 March 1902

 

Despard resigned his commission on 11 August 1902. Seven years later he emigrated to Canada, where he settled as a rancher Lloydminster, Saskatchewan. A fellow Irishman, Ivan Crossley, later wrote:

I had always liked the job of handling horses and stock of all kinds so I was soon up to my neck in the business of buying and selling and doing very well. I had five livery teams and used to drive the police and doctors all over the country. I started a cartage business in town, hauling stores and produce from the railroad depot to the different stores. Business grew with the town and I soon found myself almost snowed under looking after everything. One evening during the winter I was doing my books at the office when a team drove up and needed stabling for the night. It was about 40 degrees below and the driver was very cold and hungry, having driven down from Edmonton, some 200 miles to the west. I got him into the warm office after stabling and feeding his horses. We started talking and I soon detected that he was an Irishman like myself. Very soon it developed that he too had come from Belfast and had been out in the woods near Edmonton working at a lumber camp. He had previously been in the Lloydminster district and had taken up a homestead but could not afford to stay at that time. He had come back to "put in his time" as required by the government. I asked his name and was told it was "Despard." "Not Charlie Despard, surely," I said. "Yes," he said and who was I? I soon told him and we found that we had attended the same school and church many years ago and we knew one another’s families. I took Charlie into partnership with me in the business and we worked together many years and made money for us both. He was a born soldier and had fought in the Boer War.

On the outbreak of war Despard returned to the UK and on 5 October 1914 applied for a commission as a lieutenant, supported by the General Officer Commanding the 16th Division who wrote that "this gentleman ... served with considerable distinction in the South African War."

Despard was commissioned as a lieutenant on 19 October 1914 and posted to the 9th Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers. He had, however, already joined the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron and bought himself the uniform and kit of a cavalry officer. Following a request, through the General Officer Commanding the 36th (Ulster) Division, his commission with the Inniskillings was confirmed.

On 20 February 1915 Despard married Josephine Madden ("his old sweetheart", according to Crossley), who was the eldest daughter of the Rev. Robert Madden of the Acacias, Portarlington, Queen‘s County. The couple moved into Marshfield House, Leixlip, County Kildare.

In October 1915 he embarked for France with his squadron, which was at the time serving as divisional cavalry to the 36th (Ulster) Division. The following June the squadron became part of the newly-formed 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment, serving as corps cavalry to X Corps.

Despard was promoted to captain on 30 October 1916. He was regularly mentioned in the regimental diary over the following months:

15 September 1916: "Mr C.B. Despard was a member of a F.G.C. martial assembled at HQ. 12th M.M.G. Battery."
7 October 1916: "A Board consisting of Capts Dimes, Uprichard & Lieut Despard examined 5 candidates for certificates in cold shoeing. The five passed successfully."
5 December 1916: "Lieut Despard went up in command of Digging party."
13 December 1916: "Usual digging party under Lieut Despard."
19 December 1916: "Usual working party under Lieut Despard."
21 December 1916: "Usual working party under Lieut Despard was heavilly shelled."
29 December 1916: "Usual working party under Lt Despard."
10 March 1917: "Trench Digging Party under Capt Despard."
24 March 1917: "Trench party under Capt Despard who reported quiet day."
14 April 1917: "A Board of officers Capt Despard presiding sat to examine cold shoers for promotion to rank of Shoeing Smith."

In September 1917 the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment was disbanded and most of its officers and men were transferred to the 9th (Service) Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers – subsequently renamed the 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion. Despard was posted to the battalion on 23 September, reporting for duty on 17 October. He was appointed officer commanding D Company. He took part in the fighting in the Battle of Cambrai in November and December 1917, being awarded a Military Cross for his role in the fighting for the village of Moeuvres:

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During the attack he commanded his company with the greatest skill and gallantry, clearing a portion of the village on the flank of the battalion. At dusk, seeing that he was in danger of being cut off, he withdrew his own and two other companies, evacuated all the wounded, and held a line south of the village. During all this time he moved about under very heavy machine-gun fire, regardless of personal danger, and displayed the greatest coolness and courage.

From 21 to 28 March 1918 Despard saw action in the 9th Battalion's fighting retreat from St Quentin at the beginning of the German Spring Offensive. For this he was later awarded a Distinguished Service Order:

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During five days of retirement, while as second-in-command of the battalion, he throughout displayed very high qualities as a leader. While in command of the rearguard the gallantry and determination with which he disputed the ground was largely responsible for the safe withdrawal of the rest of the main body.

The battalion moved north to the Ypres sector in April 1918 and took part in the fighting to halt the German offensive there. On 18 April, while leading a relief party of the 1st and 9th Royal Irish Fusiliers to the lines on Mount Kemmel, Despard was severely wounded in a German artillery barrage. He died soon after and was buried in Kemmel Cemetery, but the location was subsequently lost. He is now commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Panel 3.

On 6 May 1918, following a letter from the War Office stating they had no information about his death, Despard's widow replied:

Thanks for your communication just received re my husband ... . I cannot understand how it is that you have had no report as to his death. I got letters from his Colonel & Chaplain as well as from brother officers telling me that he was killed on the 18th April, he was going to relieve other troops when a shell fell beside him wounding him severely in the thigh, he was taken at once to a dressing post, but died just after being admitted. Would you please have enquiries made at once into the matter, I would suggest your writing to Lieutenant Colonel Kelly commanding 9th Batt Royal Irish Fusiliers for particulars as I am most anxious to know as soon as possible.

Two days later the War Office wrote confirming his death.

Despard was Mentioned in Despatches for 'distinguished and gallant service and devotion to duty' in Field Marshal Haig's despatch of 8 November 1918.

 

 

 

       

 

 

Captain Despard's medals and memorial plaque on display in the Inniskillings Museum, Enniskillen.

 

Images 1 and 8 sourced from the Inniskillings Museum facebook site. Images 2, 4 and 9 copyright © Phillip Tardif with all rights reserved as set out in this Use of Material policy. Image 5 is part of a group photo of officers and NCOs of the Inniskilling squadron which appeared in the Belfast Evening Telegraph of 28 January 1915. The full image can be seen here. Images 6 and 7 sourced from the South Dublin Library Service's Our Heroes site. The memoir of Ivan Crossley and some other information here sourced from Alan Curragh's website Inst in the Great War: The Fallen of the Royal Belfast Academical Institution. I am grateful for his agreement that I reproduce it here.

 

This page last updated 30 September 2023.