BEILBY Julius Henry

University of Edinburgh Memorial Roll:
Edinburgh Colllegiate School. Student of Medicine, 1885-9; MB, CM. 1889. RAMC (Territorial Force), attached Worcester Yeomanry, Captain November 1914. Dispatches June 1917. Killed in action at Katia, Egypt, on 23rd April 1916.

Captain J.H. Beilby 1st/1st Worcester Yeomanry (RAMC), embarked at Devonport 13th October 1915 for service with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force and disembarked at Mudros 28th October 1915. Disembarked at Alexandria, Egypt on 28th November 1915. Killed in action 23rd April 1916.

Source for additional information: The Yeomanry Cavalry of Worcestershire 1914 – 1922.

The following newspaper report has been researched and transcribed by Andy Frisby:
Bromsgrove, Droitwich and Redditch Messenger 12th August 1916:
As announced last week, it is officially notified that Captain Julius Henry Beilby, Royal Army Medical Corps, (attached to the Worcestershire Yeomanry) of Perry Hall, Bromsgrove must be presumed to have been killed in action. Captain Beilby was concerned with his regiment, in the action at Katia, east of the Suez Canal, on Easter Sunday, April 23rd. The enemy suddenly attacked in overwhelming numbers and although the Yeomanry put up a gallant fight, they were compelled to retire, losing a considerable number of officers and men either killed, wounded or missing. The name of Captain Beilby was included in the last named class. After an anxious period of waiting, a return was obtained from the Turks of the prisoners in their hands, but the name of Captain Beilby was not mentioned. As time wore on and no further news was received, the ground for hope became more and more slender and the worst forebodings were confirmed by the recent official announcement.
Captain Beilby was the second son of the late Mr J.H. Beilby of Edinburgh and was born at Collaton, Midlothian on July 19th 1868. He was educated at Edinburgh Collegiate School, at Edinburgh University and at Vienna University. He graduated M.B, C.M, Edin. in 1889 and was resident physician at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital for Sick Children in 1891/92. He practiced for some years at Reigate, Surrey. He was a Fellow of the Edinburgh Obstetrical Society and a member of the Royal Medical Society of Edinburgh. Among the appointments he held were those of Medical Officer to Bromsgrove School, Certifying Factory Surgeon and Surgeon to the Bromsgrove Cottage Hospital.
It was in 1897 that Captain Beilby came to Bromsgrove as a partner of Dr Underhill of Barnt Green. Quiet and unostentatious in manner he did not during the early years of his residence amongst us, engage in public affairs, but his geniality created an atmosphere of friendliness and trust, that he speedily became one of most popular figures in the community. His circle of friends was wide and he held the esteem and regard of all classes, not least that of the poor, to whom he was a generous friend. His untimely death represents a great loss to the town and district and all in Bromsgrove feel that in him, there has been taken from us a gallant officer and a courtly gentleman. It was during later years that he entered public life. He was elected a member of the Urban District Council at the election of 1910 and held the seat until the time of his death. He was Bailiff of Bromsgrove 1911/12 and in 1913, when an additional seat on the Worcestershire County Council was conceded to Bromsgrove, he was returned unopposed as the first member for Bromsgrove East and this position also he continued to occupy. He was a liberal supporter of all local movements for the good of the town and he was a pioneer worker at Bromsgrove for the Red Cross and V.A.D. organisations, which have rendered invaluable aid in caring for the sick and wounded during the present war. Captain Beilby was a Surgeon-Captain in the Worcestershire Yeomanry (Queen’s Own Worcestershire Hussars) from 1900 to 1907. When he retired, he promised his commanding officer that he would return if his services were ever needed and he promptly redeemed this promise in the early days of the war, rejoining as Captain R.A.M.C., and being attached to the Worcestershire Yeomanry. After a spell of service with his unit at home stations, he proceeded to the Mediterranean on active service and when the end came he was still serving with the regiment, for which he had a great affection and was placing his professional knowledge and skill at the disposal of his comrades in arms.
Captain Beilby leaves a widow and two boys, for whom great sympathy is felt.

The following newspaper report has been researched and transcribed by Adrian Carter:
Bromsgrove Weekly Messenger, 3rd February 1917:
“Local Will”. Captain Julius Henry Beilby of Bromsgrove, R.A.M.C. Resided at Perry Hall, Bromsgrove. Killed in action in Egypt on 23rd April. Second son of Mr J.H. Beilby of Edinburgh.