DEATH: Evening Telegraph Thursday, October 19, 1933
FLYING OFFICER KILLED BY TRAIN
THEATRE CROWD SEES ACCIDENT
A man who was killed by a train at Piccadilly Circus Tube Station, London, last night, was identified to-day as Flying Officer Reginald E. H. Beaton, son of Mr. E. W. H. Beaton, of Sussex Gardens, Hyde Park, and a brother of Mr. Cecil Beaton, the well-known artist and society photographer. He was attached to the No. 101 Bomber Squadron, Andover, Hants. The accident occurred at 11 o'clock when there was a good number of homeward-bound theatre-goers on the station platform. The man was seen to fall in front of an incoming train and was killed immediately. The service was held up for about 15 minutes while the body was removed from beneath the train. Flying Officer Beaton was a brother of Lady Smiley, formerly Miss Nancy Beaton. Her marriage to Sir Hugh Smiley took place at St. Margaret's, Westminster, last January, and was attended by many well known people.
ON LEAVE
Mr. Cecil Beaton told a reporter that his brother had been on leave for two weeks and was soon due to return to the Air Force. "He had been enjoying himself immensely," said Mr. Beaton. "He had been seeing all his old friends and going to theatres and dances with them. Yesterday my brother went out about tea time. He said he was going to see some friends, and would probably be staying out to dinner. Consequently we did not worry when he did not return home. The first we heard of the accident was from the police when they telephoned my father's house just after midnight. I cannot think why Reggie should have gone to the Piccadilly Tube Station. Reggie was 26 years of age."
INQUEST: The Sunderland Echo, Friday, October 20, 1933
BROODED OVER SIGHT AFFECTION ~ LOVED HIS LIFE IN R. A. F.
An R.A.F. officer's deliberate dive to death under a tube train at Piccadilly Circus on October 18 was described at the inquest to-day, when a verdict of "Suicide while of unsound mind" was returned. It was stated that the victim, Flying Officer Reginald Ernest Hardy Beaton (28) of 61 Sussex Gardens, London, W. C., was keenly in love with his life in the Air Force and had brooded because his sight was affected. The tragedy occurred shortly after Beaton left a cocktail party where his eye trouble had caused "a sort of black-out" during which he had fallen flat on his face.
THE FUNERAL: As described by Cecil Beaton in The Wandering Years, Diaries 1922-1939
This morning (Saturday) was the funeral. More flowers arrived, including a sheaf of lilies I had sent. Hesitantly, I wrote a last message to Reggie on the accompanying card. The flowers were somehow ugly, and they didn't seem to smell. Mummie was up from bed, weeping dejectedly as she waited in her bedroom for the funeral to begin. Nancy and Baba looked unaccustomedly pale without make-up. They sat on the arms of Mummie's chair. Everyone looked strange in black. Time now to go to the church opposite for the service. The wreaths had already been taken across. I was sent to tell Mum to come down. I tried to say casually, 'I think we ought to be going.' As we descended the cold staircase, I turned slightly and noticed my mother had on black satin shoes rather frayed at the toes. The coffin preceded us to the church. We walked up the aisle, Mum very bent with tears pouring down her face. She cried throughout the service.
The coffin looked solid and shiny. I couldn't believe anyone lay inside it, least of all Reggie. The black-beetle pall bearers staggered under the the load as they made their way down the aisle. We followed, the family and Reggie's best friends-Raymond, Mrs. O'Brien, Ninnie, Manley, Miss Joseph, Lady Chichester, relations and a few men I did not know and scarcely saw.
Outside there were painful kisses, silent handshakes. Nancy and Baba had faces swollen red with tears. Daddy and I drove silently to Hampstead cemetery. On the way, I watched to see which of the passers-by took off their hats as the hearse moved along. I noticed that a lot of people had cigarettes in their mouths.
The sun shone. We gathered around the open grave, watching the coffin lowered slowly into the vault as the last prayer was said. Only now did my father burst into tears. He tried to hide his face with his hat; he trembled and quivered. I was howling. Someone held my arm very tight.
After a few necessary words to relations and friends, we drove home. On the way, Daddy brought out his watch. 'Twenty minutes to twelve. That didn't take very long,' he said.
The drawing-room looked like a scene in a Pirandello play, with so many flowers and everyone wearing black. There was sherry and brandy on the side table. No one spoke much.
FLYING OFFICER KILLED BY TRAIN
THEATRE CROWD SEES ACCIDENT
A man who was killed by a train at Piccadilly Circus Tube Station, London, last night, was identified to-day as Flying Officer Reginald E. H. Beaton, son of Mr. E. W. H. Beaton, of Sussex Gardens, Hyde Park, and a brother of Mr. Cecil Beaton, the well-known artist and society photographer. He was attached to the No. 101 Bomber Squadron, Andover, Hants. The accident occurred at 11 o'clock when there was a good number of homeward-bound theatre-goers on the station platform. The man was seen to fall in front of an incoming train and was killed immediately. The service was held up for about 15 minutes while the body was removed from beneath the train. Flying Officer Beaton was a brother of Lady Smiley, formerly Miss Nancy Beaton. Her marriage to Sir Hugh Smiley took place at St. Margaret's, Westminster, last January, and was attended by many well known people.
ON LEAVE
Mr. Cecil Beaton told a reporter that his brother had been on leave for two weeks and was soon due to return to the Air Force. "He had been enjoying himself immensely," said Mr. Beaton. "He had been seeing all his old friends and going to theatres and dances with them. Yesterday my brother went out about tea time. He said he was going to see some friends, and would probably be staying out to dinner. Consequently we did not worry when he did not return home. The first we heard of the accident was from the police when they telephoned my father's house just after midnight. I cannot think why Reggie should have gone to the Piccadilly Tube Station. Reggie was 26 years of age."
INQUEST: The Sunderland Echo, Friday, October 20, 1933
BROODED OVER SIGHT AFFECTION ~ LOVED HIS LIFE IN R. A. F.
An R.A.F. officer's deliberate dive to death under a tube train at Piccadilly Circus on October 18 was described at the inquest to-day, when a verdict of "Suicide while of unsound mind" was returned. It was stated that the victim, Flying Officer Reginald Ernest Hardy Beaton (28) of 61 Sussex Gardens, London, W. C., was keenly in love with his life in the Air Force and had brooded because his sight was affected. The tragedy occurred shortly after Beaton left a cocktail party where his eye trouble had caused "a sort of black-out" during which he had fallen flat on his face.
THE FUNERAL: As described by Cecil Beaton in The Wandering Years, Diaries 1922-1939
This morning (Saturday) was the funeral. More flowers arrived, including a sheaf of lilies I had sent. Hesitantly, I wrote a last message to Reggie on the accompanying card. The flowers were somehow ugly, and they didn't seem to smell. Mummie was up from bed, weeping dejectedly as she waited in her bedroom for the funeral to begin. Nancy and Baba looked unaccustomedly pale without make-up. They sat on the arms of Mummie's chair. Everyone looked strange in black. Time now to go to the church opposite for the service. The wreaths had already been taken across. I was sent to tell Mum to come down. I tried to say casually, 'I think we ought to be going.' As we descended the cold staircase, I turned slightly and noticed my mother had on black satin shoes rather frayed at the toes. The coffin preceded us to the church. We walked up the aisle, Mum very bent with tears pouring down her face. She cried throughout the service.
The coffin looked solid and shiny. I couldn't believe anyone lay inside it, least of all Reggie. The black-beetle pall bearers staggered under the the load as they made their way down the aisle. We followed, the family and Reggie's best friends-Raymond, Mrs. O'Brien, Ninnie, Manley, Miss Joseph, Lady Chichester, relations and a few men I did not know and scarcely saw.
Outside there were painful kisses, silent handshakes. Nancy and Baba had faces swollen red with tears. Daddy and I drove silently to Hampstead cemetery. On the way, I watched to see which of the passers-by took off their hats as the hearse moved along. I noticed that a lot of people had cigarettes in their mouths.
The sun shone. We gathered around the open grave, watching the coffin lowered slowly into the vault as the last prayer was said. Only now did my father burst into tears. He tried to hide his face with his hat; he trembled and quivered. I was howling. Someone held my arm very tight.
After a few necessary words to relations and friends, we drove home. On the way, Daddy brought out his watch. 'Twenty minutes to twelve. That didn't take very long,' he said.
The drawing-room looked like a scene in a Pirandello play, with so many flowers and everyone wearing black. There was sherry and brandy on the side table. No one spoke much.
DEATH: Evening Telegraph Thursday, October 19, 1933
FLYING OFFICER KILLED BY TRAIN
THEATRE CROWD SEES ACCIDENT
A man who was killed by a train at Piccadilly Circus Tube Station, London, last night, was identified to-day as Flying Officer Reginald E. H. Beaton, son of Mr. E. W. H. Beaton, of Sussex Gardens, Hyde Park, and a brother of Mr. Cecil Beaton, the well-known artist and society photographer. He was attached to the No. 101 Bomber Squadron, Andover, Hants. The accident occurred at 11 o'clock when there was a good number of homeward-bound theatre-goers on the station platform. The man was seen to fall in front of an incoming train and was killed immediately. The service was held up for about 15 minutes while the body was removed from beneath the train. Flying Officer Beaton was a brother of Lady Smiley, formerly Miss Nancy Beaton. Her marriage to Sir Hugh Smiley took place at St. Margaret's, Westminster, last January, and was attended by many well known people.
ON LEAVE
Mr. Cecil Beaton told a reporter that his brother had been on leave for two weeks and was soon due to return to the Air Force. "He had been enjoying himself immensely," said Mr. Beaton. "He had been seeing all his old friends and going to theatres and dances with them. Yesterday my brother went out about tea time. He said he was going to see some friends, and would probably be staying out to dinner. Consequently we did not worry when he did not return home. The first we heard of the accident was from the police when they telephoned my father's house just after midnight. I cannot think why Reggie should have gone to the Piccadilly Tube Station. Reggie was 26 years of age."
INQUEST: The Sunderland Echo, Friday, October 20, 1933
BROODED OVER SIGHT AFFECTION ~ LOVED HIS LIFE IN R. A. F.
An R.A.F. officer's deliberate dive to death under a tube train at Piccadilly Circus on October 18 was described at the inquest to-day, when a verdict of "Suicide while of unsound mind" was returned. It was stated that the victim, Flying Officer Reginald Ernest Hardy Beaton (28) of 61 Sussex Gardens, London, W. C., was keenly in love with his life in the Air Force and had brooded because his sight was affected. The tragedy occurred shortly after Beaton left a cocktail party where his eye trouble had caused "a sort of black-out" during which he had fallen flat on his face.
THE FUNERAL: As described by Cecil Beaton in The Wandering Years, Diaries 1922-1939
This morning (Saturday) was the funeral. More flowers arrived, including a sheaf of lilies I had sent. Hesitantly, I wrote a last message to Reggie on the accompanying card. The flowers were somehow ugly, and they didn't seem to smell. Mummie was up from bed, weeping dejectedly as she waited in her bedroom for the funeral to begin. Nancy and Baba looked unaccustomedly pale without make-up. They sat on the arms of Mummie's chair. Everyone looked strange in black. Time now to go to the church opposite for the service. The wreaths had already been taken across. I was sent to tell Mum to come down. I tried to say casually, 'I think we ought to be going.' As we descended the cold staircase, I turned slightly and noticed my mother had on black satin shoes rather frayed at the toes. The coffin preceded us to the church. We walked up the aisle, Mum very bent with tears pouring down her face. She cried throughout the service.
The coffin looked solid and shiny. I couldn't believe anyone lay inside it, least of all Reggie. The black-beetle pall bearers staggered under the the load as they made their way down the aisle. We followed, the family and Reggie's best friends-Raymond, Mrs. O'Brien, Ninnie, Manley, Miss Joseph, Lady Chichester, relations and a few men I did not know and scarcely saw.
Outside there were painful kisses, silent handshakes. Nancy and Baba had faces swollen red with tears. Daddy and I drove silently to Hampstead cemetery. On the way, I watched to see which of the passers-by took off their hats as the hearse moved along. I noticed that a lot of people had cigarettes in their mouths.
The sun shone. We gathered around the open grave, watching the coffin lowered slowly into the vault as the last prayer was said. Only now did my father burst into tears. He tried to hide his face with his hat; he trembled and quivered. I was howling. Someone held my arm very tight.
After a few necessary words to relations and friends, we drove home. On the way, Daddy brought out his watch. 'Twenty minutes to twelve. That didn't take very long,' he said.
The drawing-room looked like a scene in a Pirandello play, with so many flowers and everyone wearing black. There was sherry and brandy on the side table. No one spoke much.
FLYING OFFICER KILLED BY TRAIN
THEATRE CROWD SEES ACCIDENT
A man who was killed by a train at Piccadilly Circus Tube Station, London, last night, was identified to-day as Flying Officer Reginald E. H. Beaton, son of Mr. E. W. H. Beaton, of Sussex Gardens, Hyde Park, and a brother of Mr. Cecil Beaton, the well-known artist and society photographer. He was attached to the No. 101 Bomber Squadron, Andover, Hants. The accident occurred at 11 o'clock when there was a good number of homeward-bound theatre-goers on the station platform. The man was seen to fall in front of an incoming train and was killed immediately. The service was held up for about 15 minutes while the body was removed from beneath the train. Flying Officer Beaton was a brother of Lady Smiley, formerly Miss Nancy Beaton. Her marriage to Sir Hugh Smiley took place at St. Margaret's, Westminster, last January, and was attended by many well known people.
ON LEAVE
Mr. Cecil Beaton told a reporter that his brother had been on leave for two weeks and was soon due to return to the Air Force. "He had been enjoying himself immensely," said Mr. Beaton. "He had been seeing all his old friends and going to theatres and dances with them. Yesterday my brother went out about tea time. He said he was going to see some friends, and would probably be staying out to dinner. Consequently we did not worry when he did not return home. The first we heard of the accident was from the police when they telephoned my father's house just after midnight. I cannot think why Reggie should have gone to the Piccadilly Tube Station. Reggie was 26 years of age."
INQUEST: The Sunderland Echo, Friday, October 20, 1933
BROODED OVER SIGHT AFFECTION ~ LOVED HIS LIFE IN R. A. F.
An R.A.F. officer's deliberate dive to death under a tube train at Piccadilly Circus on October 18 was described at the inquest to-day, when a verdict of "Suicide while of unsound mind" was returned. It was stated that the victim, Flying Officer Reginald Ernest Hardy Beaton (28) of 61 Sussex Gardens, London, W. C., was keenly in love with his life in the Air Force and had brooded because his sight was affected. The tragedy occurred shortly after Beaton left a cocktail party where his eye trouble had caused "a sort of black-out" during which he had fallen flat on his face.
THE FUNERAL: As described by Cecil Beaton in The Wandering Years, Diaries 1922-1939
This morning (Saturday) was the funeral. More flowers arrived, including a sheaf of lilies I had sent. Hesitantly, I wrote a last message to Reggie on the accompanying card. The flowers were somehow ugly, and they didn't seem to smell. Mummie was up from bed, weeping dejectedly as she waited in her bedroom for the funeral to begin. Nancy and Baba looked unaccustomedly pale without make-up. They sat on the arms of Mummie's chair. Everyone looked strange in black. Time now to go to the church opposite for the service. The wreaths had already been taken across. I was sent to tell Mum to come down. I tried to say casually, 'I think we ought to be going.' As we descended the cold staircase, I turned slightly and noticed my mother had on black satin shoes rather frayed at the toes. The coffin preceded us to the church. We walked up the aisle, Mum very bent with tears pouring down her face. She cried throughout the service.
The coffin looked solid and shiny. I couldn't believe anyone lay inside it, least of all Reggie. The black-beetle pall bearers staggered under the the load as they made their way down the aisle. We followed, the family and Reggie's best friends-Raymond, Mrs. O'Brien, Ninnie, Manley, Miss Joseph, Lady Chichester, relations and a few men I did not know and scarcely saw.
Outside there were painful kisses, silent handshakes. Nancy and Baba had faces swollen red with tears. Daddy and I drove silently to Hampstead cemetery. On the way, I watched to see which of the passers-by took off their hats as the hearse moved along. I noticed that a lot of people had cigarettes in their mouths.
The sun shone. We gathered around the open grave, watching the coffin lowered slowly into the vault as the last prayer was said. Only now did my father burst into tears. He tried to hide his face with his hat; he trembled and quivered. I was howling. Someone held my arm very tight.
After a few necessary words to relations and friends, we drove home. On the way, Daddy brought out his watch. 'Twenty minutes to twelve. That didn't take very long,' he said.
The drawing-room looked like a scene in a Pirandello play, with so many flowers and everyone wearing black. There was sherry and brandy on the side table. No one spoke much.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
-
Geneanet Community Trees Index
-
London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1923
-
England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995
-
Web: UK, Burial and Cremation Index, 1576-2014
-
Westminster, London, England, Electoral Registers, 1902-1970
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
