Edmund Becher at Castle Farm House, Lismore, Co. Waterford
| Main Creator: | |
|---|---|
| In collection: | The Poole Photographic Collection |
| Format: | Photo |
| Published / Created: |
Circa January 1908
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| Subjects: | |
| Notes: | Photograph commissioned by Mrs. Beecher, Castlefarm, Lismore. Formerly at call number P_WP_1774a Forms part of: Poole Whole Plate series Original title of this photograph was 'Boy on donkey, commissioned by Mrs. Beecher, Castlefarm, Lismore', and the date range was between 1901 and 1954. Research by our Flickr community identified this boy as Edmund Richard Fane Becher of Castle Farm House, Lismore, and narrowed the date to around January 1908. Edmund was about 11 years old when this photograph was taken outside Castle Farm House in Lismore, Waterford. Eight years later, he was a Second Lieutenant fighting with the Royal Munster Fusiliers in World War I. Edmund Becher was wounded in action, and died in France on 19 July 1916. Back home in Lismore, his parents Ella and Edmund, heard the news by telegram two days later. Featured in the National Library of Ireland's "Photo Detectives" exhibition at the National Photographic Archive, Dublin, 2017-2018. Additional information about this photograph is available on the National Library of Ireland's Flickr Commons photostream http://www.flickr.com/photos/nlireland/17256098971 This description is derived from the original Index Books created at the A. H. Poole Studio. Physical description: 1 photograph : glass plate negative; 17 x 22 cm. more |
Thanks for all your comments. The consensus seems to be that this boy is indeed Edmund (though we were led astray for a while by "Edward") Becher, at about age 11. This leads us to a grave record in France as follows:
Rank: Lieutenant
Date of Death: 19/07/1916
Age: 19
Regiment/Service: Royal Munster Fusiliers 8th Bn.
Grave Reference: I. F. 7.
Cemetery: MAZINGARBE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
Additional Information: Son of Edmund W. and Ella Becher, of Ardagh, Lismore, Co. Waterford.
This photo fits very well into our Album of Childhood, Best Days of your Life? and I have made the executive decision to rename the photo exactly the same as the album. I will leave it to you to answer the question for this boy.
Photographer: A. H. Poole Studio Photographer
Collection: Collection: Poole Photographic Collection
Date: Circa January 1908
NLI Ref: POOLEWP 1774a
You can also view this image, and many thousands of others, on the NLI’s catalogue at catalogue.nli.ie
Tags:
A.H. Poole, Arthur Henri Poole, Glass Negative, National Library of Ireland, Lismore, Royal Munster Fusiliers, 19/7/1916, Boy, Donkey, Mrs. Beecher, Castlefarm, Munster, Ireland, Mrs Becher, France, Lieutenant, Date of Death 19/07/1916, Age 19, 8th Battalion, MAZINGARBE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, Son of Edmund W Becher, Son of Ella Becher, Ardagh, Ar dheis Dé!, Lieut. E. R. F. Becher, Major-General Hickie, Lieutenant Becher, Edmund Becher, Poole Photographic Collection, Castle Farm House, Waterford, Edmund Richard Fane Becher, 1908, WWI, First World War, People Identified, Date Established, Location Identified, 20th Century
Comments
derangedlemur
No streetview, but we may as well have the OSI: maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V1,603425,598510,7,9
Posted: 30.04.2015
derangedlemur
Theres lots of Beechers in that general area in the census but none in Castlefarm. Either they're visiting or it's after 1911.
Posted: 30.04.2015
sharon.corbet
There was a Edmund Waldo Becher living in Castle Farm House and "with the Duke of Devonshire's Estate Office between 1883 and 1928".
On the other hand, the Lismore Castle Estate claims an Edward Beecher as Agent from 1921-1936.
Posted: 30.04.2015
Beara Peninsula
Maybe they named a brook after him !!
Posted: 30.04.2015
derangedlemur
Edmund Waldo Becher: That's a very german name. I thought they mostly bought up West Cork and Kerry, not Waterford.
Posted: 30.04.2015
sharon.corbet
The building behind doesn't look like Castle Farm House. (Unless there was fairly drastic renovation in the meantime.)
Posted: 30.04.2015
derangedlemur
[https://www.flickr.com/photos/129555378@N07] The landed estates one doesn't match the OSI, whereas the NLI one does.
Posted: 30.04.2015
derangedlemur
Judging by the description on buildingsofireland (www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&...), the other farmhouse is here: maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V1,604044,598699,7,9
Posted: 30.04.2015
sharon.corbet
In 1901, Edmund Becher was in Lismore with wife and 4 year old son Edmund/Edward - possibly the little lad on the donkey?
Posted: 30.04.2015
sharon.corbet
If it is Edward Becher then he joined the Royal Munster Fusiliers and was killed at 19 in France on July 19 1916. (Grave record.)
Posted: 30.04.2015
National Library of Ireland on The Commons
[https://www.flickr.com/photos/97197821@N07] Enough of that!! now back to the lessons.
Posted: 30.04.2015
Swordscookie
[https://www.flickr.com/photos/129555378@N07] If that is the case Sharon the young lad on the donkey, who looks about ten at the time, had just a few years to live! How terribly sad!
On the date he died the Battle of Fromelles took place involving Australian troops on the Western Front for the first time. It doesn't seem as if the Munsters were involved in this but the battle of the Somme was raging since July 1 and so young Edward would appear to have died in that terrible conflagration! Ar dheis Dé!
Posted: 30.04.2015
National Library of Ireland on The Commons
[https://www.flickr.com/photos/8468254@N02] Thanks for the mapping information. [https://www.flickr.com/photos/129555378@N07] [https://www.flickr.com/photos/swordscookie] It is a sad end for this lad if you guys are correct, I have updated the summary on the basis that you are.
Date wise are we circa 1907?
Posted: 01.05.2015
Carol Maddock
The Bechers were informed very swiftly of their son’s death on 19 July 1916. According to the Irish Times, they received a telegram on Friday 21 July.
From Ireland’s Roll of Honour, 23 December 1916 (Weekly Irish Times:
Mr. Edward W. Becher, Castlefarm House, Lismore, whose only son, Sec. Lieut. E. R. F. Becher, Royal Munster Fusiliers, recently died from wounds received in action, has received a letter from Major-General Hickie, conveying his sincere sympathy. Lieutenant Becher, he said, had already been brought to his notice for gallant conduct and skilful leadership, and had he survived he would have been recommended for the Military Cross … expressing the sorrow of all ranks in the Munster Fusiliers, and bearing testimony to Lieutenant Becher’s gallantry, untiring energy, keenness, and courage.
Posted: 01.05.2015
National Library of Ireland on The Commons
[https://www.flickr.com/photos/47297387@N03] How sad.
Posted: 01.05.2015
National Library of Ireland on The Commons
A little addendum to this story! Yesterday I happened to be down in Lismore and visited St. Carthages Cathedral in the town. When I entered St. Columba's chapel there I spotted a memorial on the wall and discovered that it was to Edmund Becher with details of his Regiment and the circumstances of his death. Please note that the name is EDMUND and not Edward as stated above!
[https://www.flickr.com/photos/swordscookie/34283530242]
and
[https://www.flickr.com/photos/swordscookie/34283530782]
Posted: 04.05.2017
ɹǝqɯoɔɥɔɐǝq
Young Edmund is also in the horse and trap in this wider photo of Castle House Farm (mentioned by [https://www.flickr.com/photos/scorbet] above). Looks like same time - catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000592074
Posted: 04.05.2020
