PATTRICK Howard Beecham
3/800 Captain, New Zealand Rifle Brigade, WW1
557 Legion of Frontiersmen, New Zealand
CITATIONMilitary CrossGazetted 2 December 1918, p14291During operations lasting several days, he displayed conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On one occasion he wasblown up by a shell and badly shaken, but he declined to retire, and carried on with his men. When all the officers had becomecasualties, he took command of the company, and it was largely owing to his fine and resolute leadership that the objectivewas quickly reached. He set a splendid example to his men.KNOWN AWARDSMilitary Cross1914-15 StarBritish War MedalVictory MedalNOTESBorn 13 April 1884Died 7 May 1962 Dunedin, New ZealandBuried Anderson’s Bay Cemetery, Dunedin [Block 45S. Plot 144]OBITUARY
On 7th May 1962 Captain Howard Beecham PATTRICK, 3/800, 1NZEF, aged 77 years, passed the last frontier. Affectionately known as ‘Pat’, he was a valed member of R Squadron. He called himself ’Blank file’ but he was far from that. He carried out for many years, collections from business firms in Dunedin, in order to enable R Squadron to give Christmas parties and gifts to children in orphanages of all denominations. He latterly lived in Monticillo Veteran’s Home. Capt S.R HEATHMAN, OC of R Squadron, represented the Legion at his funeral.
