Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1918-12-25
IRASBURC
LIEUT.. SIDNEY BEAUCLERK
CONTINUED from Page Four)

A warm tribute is paid to Lieuten-
ant Beauclerk by Lieutenant Holden,
as comrade and as a brave man.
The action in which he lost his life
is graphically described in the letter
and stamps Lieutenant Beauclerk as
of heroic mould. He had been select
ed for dangerous mission because OF
previously demonstrated courage and
ability and the selection was justified
when the daring young lieutenant
sacrificed his own life in protecting
a plane with photographs needed
badly by the commanding officers.
Lieutenant Beauclerk had many
thrilling adventures, these beginning
even before he had finished his train
ing in this country. While student
clerk had fall of $4,000 feet, land
ing with only minor shaking up and
enthusiasm for flying undiminished.
He had further stirring adventures in
action in France, which stamped him
as one of the bravest of the American
aviators, no mean distinction in
view of the stories of airmen coming
to this country every day.
Lieutenant Holden's letter to DR..
and Mrs. Beauclerk, follows:
Nov. Is, 1916.
Dear Mr.. and Mrs. Beauclerk:
Inasmuch as / am personal friend
of your son, Sidney, and having had
the pleasure of working with the
same squadron to which he was at
tached and consequently being thor
oughly acquainted with his work
from the time he left the States up
to and including the day he was taken
from us, feel greatly honored no
matter how sad the existing circum
stances may be, to be able to inform
his parents of his record and the work
which he did for you, and the cause
which it was his opportunity to rep
resent.
It is not necessary to explain Docs
work during his period of training, SO
l shall simply give you the details
from the day he joined the Squad
ron.
A few days previous to the st.
Mihiel attack, Doc. joined the Squad
ron and his work during this drive
was wonderful He was one of
those reliable flyers whom one loves
to work with and no matter what the
weather conditions might be, and no
matter how dangerous a mission had
to be carried out, Doc. was always
found to be ready. His work in this
drive made him one of the most re-
liable and trustworthy men in the
Squadron and everyone considered it
real pleasure to fly with him.
At the conclusion of this drive the
Squadron was transferred into the
Argonne sector and his work there
won him much praise, not only from
! the members Of his Squadron but
from the commanding officers of the
| Squadron, group and corps.
On the 10Th of October Doc was
sent up with a formation of six
planes, whose mission was to take
photographs of certain sector over
| which our infantry was to advance
the following morning. 1t was a
mighty important mission for it was
necessary to know just what sort of
territory our troops had to contend
with, and consequently only the best
do the work. Our formation was at
tackled by overwhelming odds but in
spite of this and with due thanks to
your son, the mission was a sue
cess, although the cost was unrepair-
able. Doc gave his life in the full
fillment of his duty. Rather than
have the plane shot down, which
was taking the pictures and conse-
quently causing hundreds of deaths
which our infantry would have suf-
fered had this mission been failure
Doc. took the bullets himself, which
were meant for our Photographic
plane and in doing so met his end.
The war is over and in a few
months we are coming home, but
even so, the 18th Squadron will never
forget Doc Beauclerk.
He went down like true Ameri-
can and even though we cannot bring
him back to you, we know as
Squadron that the name of Beauclerk
shall ever be an honor to the Ameri-
can nation. May the fact that Doc
gave his life for the benefit of others,
ever be comfort to you in time Of
need. He fought to the end and
even though MORALLY wounded he
landed his machine in such a way as
to save his observers life.
So you see my friends that during
it all his thoughts were for others,
and in so doing he has acted just as
l know you would want him to do.
May his sacrifice ever be an inspir-
alton to others.
fantry made their all famous attack
which had a direct bearing upon the
close of the war and they found the
grave of your son from which we
gather that the Boche buried Doc
with military honors.
Upon his cross, is written these
words
Here is an American Flyer
1t. s. w. Beauclerk, Jr.
Killed Oct. 20, 1918
According to the map his grave is
about 200 yards west of the village
of Chapmigneulle. This town is about
five miles east of Grandpre and so
miles north of the city of Barbecue.
Now, in closing let me say that at
some future date I hope to have the
pleasure of meeting you and then,
perhaps I will be able to explain Docs
work far better than can under the
procopt ciro,1n,o SfancoS