Roderick Beauclerk Webb

Major Roderick Beauclerk Webb, 25th Battalion (Legion of Frontiersmen) Royal Fusiliers, was wounded in the attack upon Bukoba on Lake Victoria 23rd/24th June 1915. Webb died of heart failure the following year on 27th July 1916, aged 49. The condition must have been congenital, as his father and two sisters all succumbed to the disease. He too is buried in Dar Es Salaam War Cemetery, Tanzania. He is buried in Dar Es Salaam War Cemetery. 3.B.12

CWGC - Son of W. F. and Amelia Webb, of Newstead Abbey, husband of Lily T. Webb, of Warwick, Queensland, AustraliaFollowing article appeared in the Nottingham Evening Post dated 9th July 1915 :- “THE OWNER OF NEWSTEAD ABBEY. “MAJOR RODERICK WEBB WOUNDED IN EAST AFRICA. “During the recent successful operations the in British East Africa, Major Roderick Webb was wounded in the wrist, though happily not seriously. “Mr. Selous, the famous African explorer, is serving as a lieutenant in the same corps, as well as Mr. Kearton, the well-known naturalist photographer and big game hunter. “Along with Major Webb, another officer was wounded very severely, but a German Government station, together with the wireless telegraphic, station, was destroyed, and much ammunition and many machine guns were taken. “It will be recalled that Major Webb came into possession of the Abbey and the estates last February on the death of Miss Webb. He had left the historic, mansion many years ago and emigrated to Australia, but on the outbreak of war he decided fight for the motherland. “By a strange coincidence he was in this country at the time of Miss Webb’s death, and was preparing for foreign service. He attended the funeral in the old churchyard at Papplewick, and visited the Abbey after an absence of 21 years.” Article appeared on 5th August 1916 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “DEATH OF MAJOR WEBB. “OWNER OF NEWSTEAD ABBEY ESTATE. “News has just been received Newstead Abbey of the death of Major Roderick Beauclerk Webb, the owner of the estate. It will be remembered that the deceased gentleman came over from Australia at the end of 1914, after having been away from England for period of over 20 years, and immediately identified himself with the movement for the Legion of Frontiersmen. He was appointed adjutant of the local unit, and he worked arduously on its behalf. Upon the death of his sister, Miss Webb, in February last year, he succeeded to the estate, as well to the Cowton estate near Darlington, but this fact did not deter him from proceeding with the Legion of Frontiersmen to British East Africa the following month. In an engagement near Victoria Nyanza [Bukoba], he was wounded in the wrist, and dysentery supervening, he was invalided to England. He took advantage of the occasion to visit the tenants on the Newstead estate as the guest of Sir Arthur and Lady Markham, who had become tenants of the abbey, being accompanied by his wife, an Australian lady. A visit paid by him to the village school was full of interest, and at a reception in his honour given by Sir Arthur and Lady Markham the major exhibited a German flag he had captured. He returned to East Africa early in the present year. “He served with the Australian contingent through the Boer war, being wounded in the arm. Three members of the Webb family now lie in Africa — Mr. F. Webb at Cairo, Mrs. W . F. Webb in South Africa, and Major Webb in East Africa. “The Newstead estates now pass to Mrs. Fraser, of Kirkhill, Inverness, sister of Major Webb, and the only remaining child of Mr. W. F. Webb.” Above articles are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918The obituary of Roderick Beauclerk Webb published in the Warwick Examiner and Times (Austrialia ) 9th August 1916 OBITUARYMAJOR R. B. WEBB. The many friends of the late Major Roderick Beauclerk Webb will regret to hear of his death, which took place a few days ago from illness whilst on active service in German East Africa. Major Webb was the son of the late William Frederick Webb, Esq., of Newstead Abbey, England (the home of the late Lord Byron), and was born in England. He came to Queensland some 16 or 17 years ago, and engaged in mining and pastoral pursuits until his brother-in-law, Sir Herbert Chermside, came to Queensland as Governor, when he joined his suite as aide-de-camp, which position he re- tained for some years. After the departure of Sir Herbert, Major (then Captain) Webb took up his residence in the Warwick district, where he resided at Mullengudgery, carrying on farming and dairying pursuits. He married Miss Lily Wilson, a daughter of the late H. C. Wilson, and returned to England a few months before the outbreak of war. Upon the outbreak of war he joined the War Office Staff, and later received his Majority and was ordered to German East Africa. After serving some time he was wounded and invalided home, he subsequently returned to the front (as second in command) some months ago, where he died as above stated. Major Webb served in the Boer war, where he was also wounded. During his residence here, Major Webb was a fine citizen, taking part in everything that was for the good or advancement of the town, he was particularly identified with the Eastern Downs Society, of which hewas for many years a committee man and prominent worker. He was a life member of St. George Society, before which he read some interesting papers, and he belonged to numerous other public societies and institutions. He was particularly mindful of charitable institutions, and especially the Warwick Hospital. Much sympathy is expressed for his sister (Mrs. Fraser), who survive him, in which we join.