THE PRO PATRIA PROJECT

BEERE Rawdon St John

24/3, Lieutenant Colonel, 4 Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade, WW1

CITATION

Distinguished Service Order

Gazetted 3 June 1919

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty.  This officer was commanding 4th Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade which carried out the attack at Puisieux-au-Mont on 21 August 1918.  This operation was a most difficult one, his Battalion was allotted a very wide frontage and owing to the presence of villages there were gaps on both flanks.  He showed great skill in supervising the forming up, and the fact that the attack was extraordinarily succesful was largely owing to his care and attention.  Again at Bapaume on 25th August 1918, his Battalion was ordered to attack.  Notice was short but he led the men forward on a lone night march, in pouring rain, over un-reconnoitred ground to the point of assembly.  The attack was again succesful, but the troops on the left failed to advance.  Though exposed to concentrated fire Liutenant Colonel BEERE so re-arranged his disposition, and encouraged the men that the ground captured was successfully held against several counter-attacks.  While performing his duty in this engagement he was wounded by shellfire, but returned to the field and resuned command of his Battalion early in November.  He had at all times shown great enthusiastic energy and skill cin the command of his Battalion.

Mention in Despatches

Gazetted 1 June 1917

Devotion to duty during the operations on the Somme when as 2nd in Command he did excellent work from 20th September to 4th October 1916.  Behind the lines he organised the forwarding of ammunition and supplies and by his constant personal effort kept these going up systematically, and at all times proved himself to be most resourceful.

Mention in Despatches

Gazetted 28 December 1917

For good work and devotion to duty as a Battalion Commander.  This Officer commanded his Battalion during the Messines Battle on 7 - 8 June 1917, and showed fine qualities of leadership and organising ability.  His work has always been of a high standard.

Mention in Despatches

Gazetted 11 July 1919

For distinguished and gallant services and devotion to duty during the period 16th September 1918 to 15 march 1919.

KNOWN AWARDS

Distinguished Service Order

1914-15 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Mention in Despatches (3)

New Zealand War Service Medal

Coronation Medal 1911

Colonial Auxiliary Forces Decoration

Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal

New Zealand Long and Efficient Service Medal

New Zealand Territorial Service Medal

NOTES

Born 28 December 1879, Wellington, New Zealand

Died 19 May 1968, Wellington, New Zealand