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The Fripp and Pocock families of Bristol, UK

Notes

Maj. Charlie Lionel Patton-Bethune M.C.

Information supplied by Peter Wills:

From: Historical Records. Queens Own Cameron Highlanders
PATTON-BETHUNE CHARLIE LIONEL, M.C.; s. of Major A. L. P. B., of The Mount, Seaton. b. 17 Mar 1882; e. Winchester; m. 1916 Mary Lester, 2nd Lieutenant, 3rd Battalion. 17 Mar 1899; Lieutenant 21 Mar 1900; 2nd Lieutenant (Reg. Comm., from 3rd Battalion: embodied 133 days) 18 Apr 1900 ; Lieutenant 21 Nov 1901: Retd.,1910; Captain from Res, of Offrs, 23 Oct 1914 ;H.-p. as the result of wounds, 14 Dec 1916; restored to establishment, 22 Mar 1917; Demobilisation Directorate (Hon.) Major. 1917; Staff Captain, War Office. 1918.

He served in the South African War, 1900-02, and took part in the operations in the Orange River Colony, May to Nov 1900, including the action at Ladybrand: operations in the Transvaal, Attached to the Imperial Yeomanry, Jan to Jun 1901 and Mar 1902 to May 1902 ; in Orange River Colony. 30 Nov 1900 to Jan 1901 and Jun to Mar 1902 : on the Zululand frontier of Natal, Sep and Oct 1901. (Queen's Medal with 3 Clasps, King's Medal with 2 Clasps.)

From 6 Aug 1904 until 10 Oct 1906 he was attached to a Chinese Regiment of Infantry. (He had qualified in the Chinese language test earlier.) On 19 Jan 1907 he was appointed an Inspector of Chinese labourers.

In Jan 1915 he joined the 1st Battalion at Beuvry, a few miles from Bethune, in France, and was posted to "A" Company. On 9 May of that year he was very severely wounded in the terrible attack at Richebourg L'Avoue (battle of Aubers Ridge). He was awarded the M.C. for his gallant conduct on this occasion; twice Mentioned in Despatches. Served later with the 3rd Battalion, and at the War Office in the Demobilisation Directorate, in which he also served during World War II.
1914-15 Star, B.W.M. and V.M., Defence and War Medals. (d. 5 Jan 1957.)

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Obituary from: The 79th News
Major Charles Lionel Patton-Bethune, M.C.
The death of Major C. L. Patton-Bethune, M.C., took place in London on 5th January, 1967. He was aged 74. The funeral service, followed by cremation, was held at St Stephen's Church, Rochester Row, Westminster on the 10th January 1957. Captain A. G. Findlay represented the Regiment.

The death of Major Patton-Bethune has reduced to nine the roll of our regular officers who served in Queen Victoria's reign.

He was educated at Winchester and got his regular commission from the 3rd Battalion in April, 1900. Shortly afterwards he was sent out to join the 1st Battalion in South Africa in command of a draft of 100 Militia reservists and men from the depot. But his progress up-country from the troopship was not all plain sailing. Owing to de Wet's activities, Patton-Bethune and his draft, in combination with our Volunteer Service Company, under Lieut. John Campbell came in for some fighting, in which he
distinguished himself, and in which John Campbell and four other ranks were wounded. On at least one occasion (at Rhenoster Camp on 14th January 1900) his draft acted on orders given personally by Lord Kitchener.

Not until 24th August did he and his mail manage to join the 79th. He was promoted Lieutenant on 21st November, 1901, and served with the 1st Battalion (less a period with the Imperial Yeomanry) until on the declaration of peace he was sent home from Kraal with 3 N.C.O.s, and 7 men to attend King Edward's Coronation. He had earned the Queen's Medal with 3 Clasps (Cape Colony, Orange Free State, and Transvaal) and the King's Medal with 2 Clasps (South Africa 1901 and South Africa 1902).

After the South African War, Patton-Bethune continued to serve in the 1st Battalion when it was quartered in Fort-George, and was with it when it went to Edinburgh in 1903 for, the visit of King Edward and Queen Alexandra.

In 1904, he went to the (Chinese Regiment) in the Far East, and was for some years rather lost to regimental ken. He was Inspector of Chinese labourers in the Transvaal, 1907-1910. He was a fluent speaker of the Chinese and Japanese languages.

He retired in September 1910, but not for long, as on the outbreak of World War I he rejoined the 3rd Battalion, and at Beuvry in January, 1915, for the second time, he joined the 1st Battalion from the 3rd, bringing with him a welcome draft of 100. About a month later the Battalion was moved from Ecquedecques into other billets in Bourecq leaving, under Captain Patton-Bethune, 150 N.C.O.s, and men, suspected cases of cerebro-spinal meningitis. One of his subalterns on that occasion (now
Lieut.-Colonel Pringle-Pattison, M.C.) refers to the splendid example set by Captain Patton-Bethune during this difficult period in his tribute.

When the 1st Battalion was at Rue de L'Epinette, in March that year, the Germans suddenly opened a heavy small arms fire on a house in our support line at "Indian Village," and several men trying to get out or in became casualties. Patton-Bethune with great courage got the door open and held it while the casualties were removed. Fortunately, he was unharmed, though three men were hit beside him.
In the same year, on the 9th of May, before our attack from the Rue du Bois, Patton-Bethune's Company was tightly jammed in a communication trench with men of another regiment and there seemed no hope of their getting up to the front line in time for the assault. Patton-Bethune, however, took the initiative, clambered out of the crowded trench and led his Company up over the open. Two of his Platoons arrived in time to take part in that afternoon of terrible casualties. Of all the officers
who went over the top only three survived; Patton-Bethune (who was awarded the Military Cross) and Haskett-Smith, both very severely wounded, and Pringle-Pattison, miraculously unscathed.
Apart from his gallantry in the field, he endeared himself to his men, inspiring confidence and morale, by interesting himself practically in their troubles and by helping to get them sorted out.
Captain Patton-Bethune lost a leg as the result of his wounds, and on recovery was employed at the War Office in the Directorate of Mobilisation. He was Mentioned in Despatches in the London Gazette of 1916.

In the Second World War, in which Patton-Bethune lost his only son, he served again in the rank of Major throughout the war at the War Office in the Directorate of Recruiting and Demobilisation, his previous experience in demobilisation being of great value.

The deep sympathy of the Cameron Highlanders goes to Mrs Patton-Bethune and to all his kin.

A Tribute (by Lieut.-Colonel Pringle-Pattison, M.C.)

There may not be a great many officers still going strong who had the privilege of knowing and serving with Patton-Bethune, though amongst them will be Brig.-General Craig-Brown, Puggy Stewart, Haskett-Smith and John Ford (besides myself).

When I was posted to the 1st Battalion from Invergordon on January 30th, 1915, Patton-Bethune was commanding A Company, with Alastair Gordon-Cumming as his senior subaltern. Shortly after this, owing to an outbreak of Spinal Meningitis, a portion of the Battalion, who were possibly contagious or considered suspected carriers, were isolated in a neighbouring village to that where the rest of the Battalion was billeted.

Captain Patton-Bethune was detailed as officer in charge and Haskett-Smith and I as his subalterns. During this trying and disagreeable period, I well remember the fine example Patton-Bethune set us with his cheerful courage and equanimity amongst a rather soared mixed lot of all ranks, as if we contracted this dread disease in those days it seemed to be mostly fatal.
Then later, on the 9th May, 1915, at Festubert, when so many good friends and comrades were killed [and when I think I am correct in stating I was the only officer of those who actually went "over the top" who returned unwounded], Patton-Bethune got the wound which cost him the loss of his leg, and thus the Regiment was deprived of the active services of a splendid regimental officer. It was a great loss, as there could never be too many of his fine stamp and character.

After the 1914-18 War, it was a genuine regret that he was seldom seen at Regimental re-unions. To me his memory will always be cherished and I am proud to have had the honour of knowing and serving with such a gallant gentleman. My only regret is that I was unavoidably prevented from attending the Funeral Service on Thursday, 10th January.
P.-P.

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1891 Census: 51 Cromwell Gardens, Kensington, London, Middlesex
Aubrey Patton-Bethune, Head, Mar, 52, Living on own means - Retired Major in H.M's Army, b. Taunton, Somerset
Ada P Bethune, Wife, Mar, 28, b. Clifton, Gloucestershire
Clarisse P Bethune, Daur, 10, b. London, Middlesex
Lionel P Bethune, Son, 9, b. London, Middlesex
Louisa Waldron, Serv, Un, 28, Cook, b. Exeter, Devon
Ellen Eldridge, Serv, Un, 25, Parlor Maid, b. Brighton, Sussex
Edith Brain, Serv, Un, 17, Housemaid, b. Grt. Baddon, Essex
Annie Kelsey, Serv, Un, 20, Kitchenmaid, b. Stratford, Essex
Arthur Rowe, Serv, Un, 14, Page, b. London, Middlesex
Abagail Barrell, Serv, Un, 40, Nurse, b. Ipswich, Suffolk

Reginald "Rex" Charles Fripp

This obituary, probably from The Times, was supplied by Sarah Pearce: (family friend/neighbour)

J.M.S. writes:
Rex Fripp, who died on August 12 aged 69 years, was born on June 15, 1915, the second son of Sir Alfred Fripp, the surgeon. He was educated at Eton and Cambridge and served during the Second World War with the Herefordshire Regiment. He was awarded an immediate DSO in July 1944 when leading a successful night attack by the First Battalion during the breakout from the Bridgehead in Normandy.
Continuing to serve with the same battalion, he took over command when approaching the Elbe in April 1945. As his then commanding officer said: "Rex always leads from the front." And so it always was.
All who were at Eton with him will remember the imposing figure of the President of Pop in the peculiar top hat. Those who knew him well were amazed at his apparent control of his housemaster, H.K. Marsden, whose presence would strike fear into the hearts of the rest of us.
His lifelong interest was in advice and guidance he was
able to give to the young. As senior partner of a City firm of Chartered Accountants, he was well placed to do this, and many will owe him a lasting debt of gratitude.
Eton, especially when his great friend C.A. Elliott was Provost, occupied much of his spare time, as did West Lulworth where, like his father and mother before him, he spent as much time as he could.
He leaves a widow and two devoted stepsons.

Margaret "Bunty" Cecely Fripp

MAJOR HENRY CHARLTON PARR, TD , of Mill House, Dess, Aberdeenshire, late Herefordshire Regt, served in WW II; b16 June, 1907; educ Eton, and RMC Sandhurst; m1st, 24 Oct 1928 ( divorce 1934), Elinor, 4th dau of Sir Herbert Archer Croft, 10th Bt, DL, JP, of Croft Castle ( see BURKE'S Peerage ), and has issue,He m2nd, 24 Jan 1935, Margaret Cecely ( d1 Jan 1972), 2nd dau of late Sir Alfred Downing Fripp, K.CVO, CB, and by her has issue,

Alfred Thomas Fripp (BM FRCS)

ALFRED THOMAS FRIPP, BM, MA, died 31 December 1995; Aged 96
ed. Oxford 1919–21.