Henry Murray Becher
(1810-1884)
Henry Murray Becher, the third son of George Becher and Harriet Geldart, nee Barclay, was born 25th December 1810 at Cawnpore. He entered the East India Company Military Seminary at Addiscombe, near Croydon, Surrey on 1st February 1826 having posted a Bond of £200 with sureties from Andrew and David Reid and underwent training for the two years. He went out to India in 1828 arriving there on 12th December to do duty with the 50th Native Infantry (N.I.). He was promoted to Ensign on 20th January 1829 and from 1832-3 took part in operations against the Kols. He was promoted Lieutenant 19th November 1836.
He married Lydia Catherine Read on 12th April 1836 at All Saints Church, Chicklade, Wiltshire. She was born in 1815 at Midsomer Norton, Somerset the 2nd daughter of the Rev. William Read and Martha of Stone Eaton, Somerset. On 5th March 1838 he took leave to New South Wales, Australia for two years presumably taking his wife with him. He was promoted Brevet-Captain on 12th June 1843 and from 28th February 1845 took further leave until he retired on 12th August 1847. According to Emily Augusta Becher's book of reminiscences, he retired from the army to Nailsworth in the Cotswolds on religious grounds as he was a member of the Plymouth Brethren. He appears to have become a partner with Thomas Sampson in a shawl making business but it failed in 1850 when he was listed in the London Gazette as living at Lightpill Mill, near Stroud, Gloucestershire. In the 1851 Census the family were living at Inchbrook, Avening, Stroud and by the 1861 Census they were living not far from his grandmother, Phoebe Leititia Cecilia Becher, at 33 Hampton Park, Westbury, Bristol. He died 16th March 1884 at Chapel House, Alma Road, Clifton, Bristol. His wife died 30th September 1894 at Holly Bank, Godalming, Surrey and was buried at Yateley Church Cemetery, Surrey.
There were seven children:
1. Major Henry George Becher, was born 22nd July 1837 in Dacca and he was dispatched to France where he attended the College St Louis in Paris and afterwards Thorns Park, Teignmouth and then from 23rd May 1856 until 15th November 1857 he attended Thomason College, Roorkee where he 'bore a good character'.
He served with the Meerut Volunteers under Captain Clarke and was a Cornet attached to the Mozzufer Field Force. He was nominated for a Cadetship by Henry Thoby Prinsep in 1858, then one of the newly appointed Directors of the East India Company, and on 14th February 1859 he took the examination for a Direct Cadetship at Roorkee which included knowledge of each of the following subjects: Written English from dictation; Arithmetic, comprising questions in each Rule laid down; the first books of Euclid; Caesar's Commentaries; Parsing and knowledge of Grammar and Syntax; French into English; Greek, Roman, English and Indian history; Geography; Fortifications; Drawing. In each subject he was deemed satisfactory.
He married Lydia Catherine Read on 12th April 1836 at All Saints Church, Chicklade, Wiltshire. She was born in 1815 at Midsomer Norton, Somerset the 2nd daughter of the Rev. William Read and Martha of Stone Eaton, Somerset. On 5th March 1838 he took leave to New South Wales, Australia for two years presumably taking his wife with him. He was promoted Brevet-Captain on 12th June 1843 and from 28th February 1845 took further leave until he retired on 12th August 1847. According to Emily Augusta Becher's book of reminiscences, he retired from the army to Nailsworth in the Cotswolds on religious grounds as he was a member of the Plymouth Brethren. He appears to have become a partner with Thomas Sampson in a shawl making business but it failed in 1850 when he was listed in the London Gazette as living at Lightpill Mill, near Stroud, Gloucestershire. In the 1851 Census the family were living at Inchbrook, Avening, Stroud and by the 1861 Census they were living not far from his grandmother, Phoebe Leititia Cecilia Becher, at 33 Hampton Park, Westbury, Bristol. He died 16th March 1884 at Chapel House, Alma Road, Clifton, Bristol. His wife died 30th September 1894 at Holly Bank, Godalming, Surrey and was buried at Yateley Church Cemetery, Surrey.
There were seven children:
1. Major Henry George Becher, was born 22nd July 1837 in Dacca and he was dispatched to France where he attended the College St Louis in Paris and afterwards Thorns Park, Teignmouth and then from 23rd May 1856 until 15th November 1857 he attended Thomason College, Roorkee where he 'bore a good character'.
He served with the Meerut Volunteers under Captain Clarke and was a Cornet attached to the Mozzufer Field Force. He was nominated for a Cadetship by Henry Thoby Prinsep in 1858, then one of the newly appointed Directors of the East India Company, and on 14th February 1859 he took the examination for a Direct Cadetship at Roorkee which included knowledge of each of the following subjects: Written English from dictation; Arithmetic, comprising questions in each Rule laid down; the first books of Euclid; Caesar's Commentaries; Parsing and knowledge of Grammar and Syntax; French into English; Greek, Roman, English and Indian history; Geography; Fortifications; Drawing. In each subject he was deemed satisfactory.
His commissions were: Ensign - 6th January 1859; Lieutenant - 12th December 1859; Captain - 6th January 1871; Major - 6th January 1879.
As a volunteer civilian he served in the Indian Mutiny of 1857 and received the campaign of 1864-65, throughout which he served with the 11th Regiment Bengal Native medal. After obtaining a commission he initially served with the 75th N.I. he took part, in 1860, in the Sikkim expedition, raising and commanding the Coolie Corps, and having sole charge of the transport. His next term of active service was in the Bhutan Infantry and for which he received the medal and clasp. He spent much of the next two years on leave out of India. In 1868 he took part, as an officer attached to the transport train, in the Abyssinian expedition, for which he received a third medal. His active career was brought to a close in the Afghan War. Taking part with his regiment, the 11th N.I., in its advance to Kohat, he performed garrison duty with it for a time at that station, then accompanied it over the Peiwar Kotal to Bian Khel, subsequently returning with it down the Kuram Valley to the line of communications. On the renewal of hostilities in the autumn of 1879, he proceeded with the regiment to Ali Khel. A few days after that post was reached, however, his health so completely broke down as to necessitate his being invalided to England; but the change came too late. He died on 29th October 1880 aged 43 at Yateley, Hampshire and was buried at the Yateley Church Cemetery.
2. Lydia 'Lilla' Harriet Becher was born 13th September 1839 at Hobart, Tasmania. She married General Sir Charles 'Charlie' Richard Pennington KCB of the Bengal Cavalry on 16th January 1861 at Calcutta Cathedral. He was born 28th May 1838 at Kurnaul, Bengal the son of Richard Baggaley Pennington and Ellen Nicholl. By 1901 they were living at Frimley, Surrey and subsequently at Farnham where he died in 1901 and she died 30th April 1921. There were four daughters and four sons.
3. Arthur James Becher was born 20th September 1841 at Saugor, Bengal and died on 14th July 1851 of Scarlet Fever at Malvilliers, Canton Vaud, Switzerland.
4. Laura Annie Becher was born 24th February at Meerut. In the 1851 England Census she was staying with her uncle and aunt, Rev. Edward and Martha Tottenham at Walcot, Bath. Later of Howbury Lodge, Clifton, Bristol. She died on 12th September 1870 at Bournemouth of Tuberculosis and was buried at Monkton Combe, Dorset.
5. Alfred Read Becher was born 15th August 1846 at Stroud, Gloucestershire. He did not obtain a Cadetship. He instead joined the Department of Public Works on 23rd July 1868 and served in the Punjab as Assistant Engineer on the Sirhind Canal. From April 1873 he served in the Accounts Branch as Asst Controller and Deputy Controller; transferred to Bombay November 1875, served subsequently in Hyderabad, Oudh, Rajputana and Mysore; examiner of accounts, Calcutta June 1886; Deputy Accountant-General and Under Secretary to government of India July 1893; Accountant-General and Deputy Secretary to government of India December 1897; retired August 1901. In 1903 he was appointed Financial Adviser to the Sultan of Zanzibar and in 1906 was awarded the Order of El Allyeh of Zanzibar. He married Amy Isabel Alexander on 13th January 1877 at Holy Trinity Church, Bolarum, Hyderabad. She was born 17th December 1857 the daughter of General Frederick Alexander, Bengal Cavalry and Superintending
. Alfred died on 11th February 1921 at the hotel Magali, Mentone, France. His wife died 12th May 1951 at Camberley, Surrey.
There were five children:
1. Muriel Aimée Becher was born 19th November 1877 at Bombay. She married Major-General Benjamin Holloway C.I.E. 1st Madras Cavalry, on 4th May 1901 at Simla. He was born 27th August 1861 at Charlbury, Oxfordshire the son of Edward Vere Peregrine Holloway and Matilda Fanny Silver.
On 8th May 1901 The Times of India reported that: The service was fully choral. The bride, who was given away by her father and who looked charming, wore a handsome gown of white satin, flounced with white chiffon, with lace yoke and long sleeves; she wore a white tulle veil and wreath and sprays of orange blossom. Her ornaments were a gold mounted pearl necklace – the gift of the bridegroom - and a pearl and diamond star, the gift of her father, and she carried a shower bouquet of white roses and white may, also given by the bridegroom. There were two bridesmaids, Miss S. Becher (her sister), and Miss Henry, who were dressed in white silk, trimmed with lace and pale pink chiffon and large black hats trimmed with black feathers and pale pink roses. The bridegroom's presents to them were gold bamboo bracelets and shower bouquets of pale pink flowers. Captain C. Wanliss, South Lancashire Regiment, acted as best man, and Mr H.S. Becher, 1-2nd P.O.W. Gurkhas, was groomsman. A large and fashionable gathering were present to witness the ceremony. The guests included His Excellency the Viceroy and Staff, His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief and Staff, and Lady Palmer and many others. The reception was held at Kennedy House, which was kindly lent for the occasion by their Highnesses the Maharajah and Maharani of Kuch Behar. The Viceroy's Band played a suitable selection of music during the afternoon.
The scene was a brilliant one with all officers present being in full dress uniform and the ladies' dresses being exceptionally smart. The bride's mother wore a white and black foulard with lace, and a toque of white chiffon with black lace and white roses. And she carried a white shower bouquet, the gift of the bridegroom. Lady Elles wore a handsome blue brocade, and Lady Rivas looked charming in grey. Lady Wolfe-Murray wore dark-blue, and her daughter was much admired in a lighter hue. Mrs Camdoff appeared in a very smart black dress with black hat ornamented by a large gold rose, a charming combination. Mrs Stewart Wilson wore a really lovely mauve frock and Mrs Mahon was in black and white, with a very pretty wig hat. Mrs Saunders in pink, Mrs Watkins in black and white, Mrs Woollcombe in white, Mrs Malleson in blue folard, Miss Hewitt in smart green frock, Mrs Lawrence in green, Mrs – (illegible), Mrs Daly and Mrs Mansfield all in blue attracted attention. Mrs Buckland and her pretty daughter, Mrs Sweeney, Mrs Cusson, Mrs Bingley and Mrs Way were among others, who all wore smart frocks and hats.
The health of the bride and bridegroom was proposed by Sir E. Elles in highly amusing and complimentary terms to which the bridegroom made a gallant reply, and afterwards Captain and Mrs Holloway drove away, in a carriage kindly lent by His Excellency the Viceroy, amid showers of rice and – (illegible) leaves, to the strains of the Wedding March, to Kufri on the Mahasu Ridge (near Simla), where they will spend the honeymoon. The bride's going away dress was of pale grey silk voile, trimmed with real lace and white chiffon, and a large white picture hat with white feathers. The list of presents given included: His Excellency the Viceroy: embossed silver case with playing cards; Mr A. Read Becher: pearl necklace and pearl diamond star and dessert service; Mrs A. Read Becher: ruby ring, dressing case, ebon and silver – (illegible) cigar cabinet (oak and silver); Mrs Holloway: - (illegible) ring, table centre, entrée dish, pair of silver candlesticks and a case of cutlery; Miss Sybil Becher: Japanese tea – (illegible); Master Lionel and Jack Becher, lace handkerchiefs; Miss A.T. Becher: Queen Anne teapot, milk jug and sugar basin. The list continued with gifts from the other guests.
Major-General Benjamin Holloway died in 1922. Between 1924 and 1950 his wife sailed several times to Canada visiting Seattle, Quebec and Montreal where one of her sons had settled. She died in 1966 at Waltham Forest, north east London. There were four sons.
2. Sybil Becher was born 10th May 1879 at Bangalore. She married Lt. Col. Edward Moore Taylor of the Punjab Cavalry 2nd April 1902 at Lahore Cathedral. He was born 1st September 1872 at Malvern the son of George Edward Moore Taylor and Martha Letitia Mansergh. He died in 1942 in Hampshire; she died 17th March 1962 in Surrey. There were two sons and one daughter.
3. Fane Douglas Read Becher was born 9th January 1884 Bangalore and died there on 12th May the same year.
4. Col. Lionel Bernard Alexander Becher was born 2nd September 1886 at Bangalore. He entered Cheltenham College in January 1901 and played Rugby for the school in 1904 and left in July 1905. Later that year he entered the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. He was commissioned into the Royal Artillery as a Lieutenant in 1907 and was promoted Major on 1st July 1946. He went on to become a Colonel in the Indian Army retiring in 1942.
He married, firstly, Bertha Lemon in 1908 at Kensington. She was born in 1878 at Sherborne, Dorset the daughter of Robert Lemon and Annie Allen Daniell; she died 8th March 1920 at Blackheath, London. He served in the Hong Kong-Singapore Battalion of the Royal Garrison Artillery which was based at Gun Club Barracks, Kowloon and was then part of No.2 Coy which was posted to Mauritius.
There were three children:
1. Col. Alexander Reginald Lionel Read Becher was born 21st June 1910 on Mauritius. He was educated at He was educated at Hereford Cathedral School 1924-28 then Woolwich 1928-1930. He was commissioned into the Royal Artillery becoming a 2nd Lieutenant 30th January 1930; Lieutenant 30th January 1933. On 1st October 1936 in addition to his other duties he took over as Garrison Sports Officer in Malaya. He was promoted Captain 1st August 1938 and Acting Major 3rd September 1939. He fought in Burma and was Mentioned in Despatches.
He married Joyce Andrews on 19th December 1935 at Lyde, Hereford. She was born 6th March 1913 at Hereford, the daughter of Phillip Glaynes Andrews and Elizabeth Maud Morris and died 31st October 2001. He died 29th October 2010 and was buried next to his wife at Cobham Cemetery, Surrey.
2. Lt Col. Noel St. John Becher, was born 2nd December 1914 at Kensington, London. He was educated at Hereford Cathedral School and RMS Camberley. He was commissioned into the 9th Jat Regiment (Indian Army) as a 2nd Lieutenant on 14th March 1936 and was promoted to Lieutenant on 30th March 1937. During WW2 he was present during actions on the Imphal-Kohima road in 1944. He remained in the Indian Army until 14th July 1952 by which time he had retired with the Honorary rank of Lt. Col. and was then transferred to the Royal Artillery as a Captain whilst retaining his Honorary rank and on 17th January 1956 he was transferred to the Reserve List. He edited a history of the War Services of the 9th Jat Regiment which was published in 1965. He also donated a scrapbook of the 9th Jat Regiment 1944 including Divisional Orders, 9th Indian Infantry Brigade relating to actions on the Imphal-Kohima road in 1944 during WW2 to the National Army Museum, London.
He married, firstly, Cynthia Goulding Tapp in 1940 at Tonbridge, Kent whom he later divorced.
He married, secondly, Margaret Ann Galloway, a Nursing Sister, on 4th July 1944 at Bareilly, Bengal. She was born 4th March 1910 and died in 1995 in Surrey. He died 9th December 1995 in Surrey.
There was one child: 1. Alan Alexander Becher was born 7th May 1947 at Rawalpindi, Bengal. It was expected that he would follow his father into the army but while he was at university, he discovered theatre dropped out and never looked back. He emigrated to Australia when he was nineteen and initially worked at the Nimrod and other Sydney theatres, at the State Theatre Company of South Australia and the now- defunct Western Australian Theatre Company. In the early 1980s he settled permanently in Perth. In 1991 he took over the Freemantle-based Swan Theatre and oversaw its relocation to Perth, followed by its rebirth as the Perth Theatre Company three years later, based at the Playhouse Theatre. While the fortunes of other theatres ebbed and flowed over the years, he shaped the PTC into a fully-fledged professional company, directing, adapting and writing plays with general appeal and often local themes. He died on 16th August 2008 at Perth, Western Australia. He had a partner and there was one son.
3. Zoe Angela Becher was born in 1920 in Bromley and died 1921 at Fulham, London.
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Lionel Bernard Alexander Becher married, secondly, Josephine Florence May Potter on 22nd December 1921 at St Mary's, Kensington. She was born on 21st October 1896 at St. Thomas, Devon and died 5th December 1920 at Torbay, Devon. He died 12th January 1961 at Victoria Cottage Hospital, Sidmouth.
There was one child:
1. Roy Anthony Becher was born 19th December 1930 at the Connaught Military Hospital, Poona, India. A founding father of higher education research in Britain. He entered Cheltenham College in September 1944 and left in December 1948 and did his National Service, where he trained as a Radio Operator and peeled a lot of potatoes. He then went up to St. John's College, Cambridge from where he graduated with a double first in mathematics and philosophy in 1954. He also performed and wrote sketches for three Footlights revues alongside Jonathon Miller and Frederic Raphael. He remained at Cambridge until 1961, working as a supervisor in philosophy in three different colleges as well as assistant secretary at Cambridge University Press. He later became assistant director at the Nuffield Foundation, and then director of the Nuffield Higher Education Group, where he helped develop the Cambridge Maths series and visited every university and polytechnic in the country to try and improve teaching standards. He was also a consultant to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development on curriculum development in secondary schools. In 1975 he moved to the University of Sussex as Professor of Education and was subsequently appointed chairman of education and head of the Academic Audit. He authored or co-authored eight books including an edited survey of British Higher Education in 1987. He retired in 1996 but continued to develop his research and to act as a visiting consultant on higher education in countries including China, Australia and Sweden. He died on 9th March 2009 at Perth after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. He married, firstly, Anne G. Protheroe in 1956 at Chelsea, London. There were two daughters. He married, secondly, Dorothy M. Jerrome in 1979 at Brighton, Sussex. There was one daughter and one son.
5. Lt Henry St John “Jack” Carrington Becher MC was born 13th March 1889 at Simla. He attended Mostyn House school, Parkgate, Cheshire and in 1903 entered Cheltenham College which he left in December 1907 and applied unsuccessfully for an HEICS Cadetship and was instead given a civilian rank in the Public Works Dept however he appears to have turned down that idea. According to the 1921 Canada Census he emigrated there in 1907 and settled at Last Mountain, Saskatchewan, Canada to become a Farmer. He obtained his Canadian Citizenship in 1909. In 1912 he visited England having sailed from Quebec aboard the Empress of England and disembarking at Liverpool.
Back in Canada he joined the Gloster Rifles, a militia unit, and served with them for three years. He then enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force at Yorkton on 20th December 1914. He also stated on his Attestation Paper that he was married to Esme C. whom he later divorced - no other details are known.
He later married Margaret Florence Denne in 1924 Saskatchewan. She was born 28th March 1897 at Deal, Kent, the daughter of Henry William Denne and Eleanor. She died 2nd December 1961 at Regina and was buried at Stilton Cemetery, Saskatchewan.
During WW1 he served with C Battery, 50 Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. He was awarded the Military Cross in 15th February 1919. The citation reads: 'Near Steenbeck on October 14th, 1918, when in command of a single gun operating with the advanced infantry, he displayed the greatest gallantry. Time after time he brought his gun into action in line with the leading infantry and shelled enemy machine guns hidden in houses at a range of under 800 yards. On one occasion when the infantry were held up, under close machine-gun and shell fire, he brought his gun forward and put the machine guns out of action. He has always displayed great coolness and courage.' He died in 1969 at Dover, Kent. There was one child: 1. St. John Alexander Becher was born in 1925 at Saskatchewan, Canada. He married Eva Estella Kennedy. She was the daughter of Norman Henry Kennedy and Estella Frances Moore, born 1923 in Alberta and died on 27th November 1998. He died 31st July 2008 and they are both buried at Qualicum Beach Cemetery, Nanaimo, BC. There were two children.
6.Frank Cunnyngham Becher was born 23rd March 1851 at Stroud and he died of scarlet fever on 16th May 1858 aged seven at Monkton Combe. Somerset. .
7. Aimée Tottenham Becher was born 25th November 1853 at Bath, Somerset. She lived with her parents for her first twenty years or so but by 1881 she was living at Moorside, Yateley, Hampshire. Latterly, she lived at 3 Brunswick Place, Bath where she died and was buried at Yateley Church Cemetery.
Back in Canada he joined the Gloster Rifles, a militia unit, and served with them for three years. He then enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force at Yorkton on 20th December 1914. He also stated on his Attestation Paper that he was married to Esme C. whom he later divorced - no other details are known.
He later married Margaret Florence Denne in 1924 Saskatchewan. She was born 28th March 1897 at Deal, Kent, the daughter of Henry William Denne and Eleanor. She died 2nd December 1961 at Regina and was buried at Stilton Cemetery, Saskatchewan.
During WW1 he served with C Battery, 50 Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. He was awarded the Military Cross in 15th February 1919. The citation reads: 'Near Steenbeck on October 14th, 1918, when in command of a single gun operating with the advanced infantry, he displayed the greatest gallantry. Time after time he brought his gun into action in line with the leading infantry and shelled enemy machine guns hidden in houses at a range of under 800 yards. On one occasion when the infantry were held up, under close machine-gun and shell fire, he brought his gun forward and put the machine guns out of action. He has always displayed great coolness and courage.' He died in 1969 at Dover, Kent. There was one child: 1. St. John Alexander Becher was born in 1925 at Saskatchewan, Canada. He married Eva Estella Kennedy. She was the daughter of Norman Henry Kennedy and Estella Frances Moore, born 1923 in Alberta and died on 27th November 1998. He died 31st July 2008 and they are both buried at Qualicum Beach Cemetery, Nanaimo, BC. There were two children.
6.Frank Cunnyngham Becher was born 23rd March 1851 at Stroud and he died of scarlet fever on 16th May 1858 aged seven at Monkton Combe. Somerset. .
7. Aimée Tottenham Becher was born 25th November 1853 at Bath, Somerset. She lived with her parents for her first twenty years or so but by 1881 she was living at Moorside, Yateley, Hampshire. Latterly, she lived at 3 Brunswick Place, Bath where she died and was buried at Yateley Church Cemetery.