Major Bevil Bryan Quiller-Couch MC (12 October 1890 – 6 February 1919)[1] was a decorated British Army officer who served continuously in Flanders and France from August 1914 to 1918. He was the son of the Cornish writer, Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch of Fowey, Cornwall. He was engaged to the war poet, May Wedderburn Cannan, but he died before they could be married. A book of his letters was published in 2002. The book was also made into a radio play by the BBC.
He attended Trinity College, Oxford in 1908 where he was captain of his College VIII rowing crew. He won the University Pairs in 1912 and 1913. He also rowed in the final for the Goblets at the Henley Royal Regatta. While he was at Oxford, he joined the Officer Training Corps and joined the Special Reserve.
War serviceedit
His war service started in August 1914 where he served with the Royal Field Artillery at Mons and Aisne. He was involved in the transportation of ammunition to the gun batteries. He saw action at the First Battle of Ypres. He later saw action at Festubert and in May 1915 he was the Orderly Officer responsible for writing the regimental war diary. By 1916, he was on the Somme and in August that year he was promoted to acting major. In September 1917, he was wounded during the Third Battle of Ypres. He was later involved at Cambrai and, by January 1918, went on leave back to England. Towards the end of the war, Quiller-Couch led his battery into action at Noyelles. He last saw action in November 1918 before joining the reserve forces at Villers Pol.[2]
Citationedit
Lieutenant Bevil Brian Quiller-Couch RFA (SR). Exceptional ability and energy during the time he was with the Brigade Ammunition Column on the Aisne and in Flanders from 20th September to 16th December 1914. On many occasions he showed great courage and initiative in bringing up his wagons. Since December in the Bethune district he acted as Orderly Officer until appointed Adjutant 10th June 1915. He has shown great zeal and ability. During the recent active operations at Festubert and Le Plantin in May his services were particularly valuable. It was a great deal owing to his energy and grasp of the situation that everything worked successfully and smoothly. This particularly applied to the tactical control of the French Group and arrangements made in connection with this Group generally.
Quiller-Couch survived the war only to die at Langerwehe, near Düren in Germany, on 6 February 1919 during the Spanish flupandemic. He was buried in the Southern Cemetery at Cologne in Germany.[4] Although he died after the end of the war, his name is recorded on the war memorial at Fowey Church.
Legacyedit
A book by Charlotte Pullein-Thompson called The Tears of War was published in 2000 by Cavalier Books. It is a compilation of Quiller-Couch's love letters sent to his fiancée and poems she sent to him.[5] In 2002, BBC Radio 4 presented a dramatised version of The Tears of War as the afternoon play on Armistice Day. The part of Quiller-Couch was played by the actor James Purefoy.[6]
Referencesedit
^"Bevil Bryan Quiller-Couch, Major, Royal Field Artillery". Jesus College, Cambridge. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
bevil, quiller, couch, major, bevil, bryan, quiller, couch, october, 1890, february, 1919, decorated, british, army, officer, served, continuously, flanders, france, from, august, 1914, 1918, cornish, writer, arthur, quiller, couch, fowey, cornwall, engaged, p. Major Bevil Bryan Quiller Couch MC 12 October 1890 6 February 1919 1 was a decorated British Army officer who served continuously in Flanders and France from August 1914 to 1918 He was the son of the Cornish writer Sir Arthur Quiller Couch of Fowey Cornwall He was engaged to the war poet May Wedderburn Cannan but he died before they could be married A book of his letters was published in 2002 The book was also made into a radio play by the BBC Contents 1 Education 2 War service 3 Citation 4 Death 5 Legacy 6 ReferencesEducation editHe attended Trinity College Oxford in 1908 where he was captain of his College VIII rowing crew He won the University Pairs in 1912 and 1913 He also rowed in the final for the Goblets at the Henley Royal Regatta While he was at Oxford he joined the Officer Training Corps and joined the Special Reserve War service editHis war service started in August 1914 where he served with the Royal Field Artillery at Mons and Aisne He was involved in the transportation of ammunition to the gun batteries He saw action at the First Battle of Ypres He later saw action at Festubert and in May 1915 he was the Orderly Officer responsible for writing the regimental war diary By 1916 he was on the Somme and in August that year he was promoted to acting major In September 1917 he was wounded during the Third Battle of Ypres He was later involved at Cambrai and by January 1918 went on leave back to England Towards the end of the war Quiller Couch led his battery into action at Noyelles He last saw action in November 1918 before joining the reserve forces at Villers Pol 2 Citation editLieutenant Bevil Brian Quiller Couch RFA SR Exceptional ability and energy during the time he was with the Brigade Ammunition Column on the Aisne and in Flanders from 20th September to 16th December 1914 On many occasions he showed great courage and initiative in bringing up his wagons Since December in the Bethune district he acted as Orderly Officer until appointed Adjutant 10th June 1915 He has shown great zeal and ability During the recent active operations at Festubert and Le Plantin in May his services were particularly valuable It was a great deal owing to his energy and grasp of the situation that everything worked successfully and smoothly This particularly applied to the tactical control of the French Group and arrangements made in connection with this Group generally The London Gazette No 31370 30 May 1919 3 Death editQuiller Couch survived the war only to die at Langerwehe near Duren in Germany on 6 February 1919 during the Spanish flu pandemic He was buried in the Southern Cemetery at Cologne in Germany 4 Although he died after the end of the war his name is recorded on the war memorial at Fowey Church Legacy editA book by Charlotte Pullein Thompson called The Tears of War was published in 2000 by Cavalier Books It is a compilation of Quiller Couch s love letters sent to his fiancee and poems she sent to him 5 In 2002 BBC Radio 4 presented a dramatised version of The Tears of War as the afternoon play on Armistice Day The part of Quiller Couch was played by the actor James Purefoy 6 References edit Bevil Bryan Quiller Couch Major Royal Field Artillery Jesus College Cambridge Retrieved 28 August 2021 Winchester college at war No 31370 The London Gazette Supplement 30 May 1919 p 6820 Find A Grave Memorial 12748001 Cavalier Books BBC Genome Project Radio Times 1923 2009 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bevil Quiller Couch amp oldid 1165988603, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
