Ernest Henry Beazley was the managing director of Union Steamship Company of BC. He lived at 2033 Comox Street in 1918.
He was born in Birkinhead, Cheshire, England, on September 16, 1876. His father was James Henry Beazley (1847-1929), who was a ship owner; he was also a director of the Cunard Line. Ernest’s mother was Emmeline Nickels (1855-1945). James and Emmeline were married in Woodchurch, Cheshire, on September 2, 1875.
In 1881, Ernest was living with his family at Ashville Road in Birkinhead.
On June 24, 1911, in Liverpool, Ernest married Elsie Warde Braithwaite. She was the daughter of Richard Braithwaite of Kendal, Westmorland. In August 1911, Ernest came to Vancouver to be the managing director of the Union Steamship Company.
From 1912 to 1918, Ernest and Elsie lived in a series of residences in the West End, including 1086 Thurlow Street (1912-1913); Kensington Place apartments (1914); 1605 Nelson Street (1915-1917); and 2033 Comox Street (1918). In 1919, he moved to 1337 The Crescent in Shaughnessy Heights.
Besides his interests in shipping, Ernest was also an airplane enthusiast. On the afternoon of May 24, 1920, Ernest and Elsie went to Minoru Park, along Elsie’s father and Charles Samuel Meek, to look at the Pacific Aviation Company’s Curtis JN-4 “Jenny” airplanes. These planes were originally used to train United States army fliers; after the First World War, private owners bought many of the planes, which became part of the civil aviation system in North America during the 1920s.
The pilot’s seat was near the middle of the plane; the passenger’s seat was nearer the front, just behind the engine.
Lieutenant George Knopp Trim, who was flying one of the planes, was the managing director of the Pacific Aviation Company. He had been with the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War. Major A. E. Baker, who was flying another plane, had received the Air Flying Cross during the First World War.
First, Elsie Beazley went on a flight with Major Baker. Then Lieutenant Trim took his plane on a test trip. The next flight was Ernest’s turn; he was not very enthusiastic, but he got dressed for the flight, and climbed into the front seat of Major Baker’s plane. They flew over Vancouver, and then came back to the landing area, at a height of about 4500 feet. Elsie Suddenly, the plane went into a nose dive; it kept on descending and crashed into a field on W.S. Cook’s farm.
Major Baker was seriously injured, and he was taken to Vancouver General Hospital in a dazed condition. Ernest’s injuries were far more severe, and a nurse pronounced him dead at the scene.
A coroner’s jury concluded that the cause of Ernest’s death was an unavoidable accident. The plane was in perfect condition just before its last flight. After te crash, all the controls were in perfect order, except for one broken wire in the centre of the fuselage. Lieutenant Trim testified that he thought that Major Baker had intentionally put the plane into a nose dive, which was a very common practice.
There was a crowded funeral for Ernest in Christ Church in downtown Vancouver. Thousands of people crowded the streets as the funeral procession went by.
It is not clear what happened to Elsie and the rest of the family.
Ernest and Elsie had three children: there were two boys and one girl, all of whom were born in Vancouver.
Philip Henry Graham Beazley
Philip Henry Graham Beazley was born on February 18, 1912, in Vancouver.
In March 1936, Philip received a short service commission as an Acting Pilot Officer.
It appears that Philip died in Calgary, Alberta in 1991.
Edward Dudley Hope Beazley
Edward Dudley Hope Beazley was born on January 3, 1914, in Vancouver.
Mollie Emmeline Beazley
Mollie Emmeline Beazley was born on January 3, 1915.
Sources
Ernest Henry Beazley, Visitation of England and Wales, volume 19, 1917, page 35, https://archive.org/stream/visitationofengl19inhowa#page/8/mode/1up.
James Henry Beazley, http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~janej/Tetley/Tetleys%20of%20London-o/p1.htm#i110
“England, Cheshire, Marriage Bonds and Allegations, 1606-1900,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FB7D-RZG : accessed 25 Apr 2014), James Henry Beazley and Emmeline Nichols, 01 Sep 1875; citing Woodchurch, England, item 3; FHL microfilm 1885411.
“England and Wales, Marriage Registration Index, 1837-1920”, index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/2DGT-3JS : accessed 25 Apr 2014), James Henry Beazley, 1875.
“England, Cheshire, Marriage Bonds and Allegations, 1606-1900,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FBWG-KTR : accessed 25 Apr 2014), James Henry Beazley, 31 Aug 1875; citing Woodchurch, Cheshire, England, item 4; FHL microfilm 1911392.
British Columbia from the Earliest Times to the Present, Howay and Scholefield, volume 4, Vancouver, S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1914, page 274, https://archive.org/stream/britishcolumbiaf04schouoft#page/274/mode/1upErnest Henry Beazley, http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~janej/Tetley/Tetleys%20of%20London-o/p1.htm
“England and Wales, Birth Registration Index, 1837-1920”, index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/2XDB-22N : accessed 25 Apr 2014), Ernest Henry Beazley, 1876.
“England, Cheshire Bishop’s Transcripts, 1598-1900,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NHVS-WMQ : accessed 25 Apr 2014), Ernest Henry Beazly, 20 Oct 1876, Christening; citing 92/93, St. Anne’s, Birkenhead, Cheshire, England, Record Office, Chester; FHL microfilm 1647364.
“England and Wales Census, 1891,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/W9HY-RMM : accessed 25 Apr 2014), Ernest H Beazley, England; citing “1891 England, Scotland and Wales census,” index and images, findmypast.co.uk (www.findmypast.co.uk : Brightsolid, n.d.); PRO RG 12, county, registration district, subdistrict, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.
The London Gazette, Publication date:8 December 1896 Issue:26801, Page:7233, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/26801/page/7233: “1st Volunteer Battalion, the Cheshire Regiment, Ernest Henry Beazley, Gent., to be Second Lieutenant. Dated 9th December, 1896.”
“England and Wales Census, 1901,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XSXQ-S9S : accessed 25 Apr 2014), Ernest H Beazley, Noctorum, Cheshire, England; citing “1901 England, Scotland and Wales census,” index and images, findmypast.co.uk (www.findmypast.co.uk : Brightsolid, n.d.); PRO RG 13, county, registration district, subdistrict, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.
“New York, Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JXRJ-K31 : accessed 25 Apr 2014), Ernest H. Beazley, arrived at New York, 25 Jan 1909, on the Lucania; citing National Archives, Washington D.C.
“England and Wales, Marriage Registration Index, 1837-1920”, index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/267Y-NN2 : accessed 25 Apr 2014), Ernest H Beazley, 1911.
FreeBMD marriages, June quarter 1911, Liverpool district, volume 8b, page 244, Ernest M. [sic] Beazley, http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/cgi/districts.pl?r=125658260&d=bmd_1397800578
FreeBMD marriages, June quarter 1911, Liverpool district, volume 8b, page 244, Elsie W. Braithwaite,http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/cgi/districts.pl?r=125658260&d=bmd_1397800578
“Canada Passenger Lists, 1881-1922”, index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/2HGL-QH7 : accessed 25 Apr 2014), Ernest H Beazley, 1917. [Immigration: Quebec City, Metagama.]
“Canada Passenger Lists, 1881-1922”, index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/2HGZ-TCL : accessed 25 Apr 2014), Ernest H Beazley, 1919. [Immigration: Quebec City, Empress of France.].
“British Columbia Death Registrations, 1872-1986,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FLKN-MSW : accessed 25 Apr 2014), Ernest Henry Beazley, 24 May 1920; citing Cooksfield **, British Columbia, Canada; British Columbia Archives film number B13117, Division of Vital Statistics, Victoria; FHL microfilm 1927294.
“E.H. Beazley, Prominent Shipping Man, Met Tragic Death in an Airplane Accident at Minoru Park on Monday; Wife Viewed Fall of Husband and Pilot; Major Baker is not Fatally Injured in Crash; Accident Mars Victoria Day Celebration,” Vancouver Province, May 25, 1920, page 1.
“Major Baker Still Dazed: Pilot Has no Recollection Yet of Details of the Tragic Flight,” Vancouver Province, May 25, 1920, page 1.
“Killed When Plane Falls 4,000 Feet: E.H. Beazley Meets Instant Death in Crash at Minoru; Pilot Injured: Fatality Occurs While Mrs. Beazley Is Watching Her Husband’s Flight,” Vancouver Sun, May 25, 1920, page 1; http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=niRlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eogNAAAAIBAJ&pg=1570%2C2999928.
“Wreck of the J.N.-4 Plane in Which E.H. Beazley Was Killed at Minoru,” Vancouver Sun, May 26, 1920, page 2 (includes photograph of Curtiss biplane); http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nyRlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eogNAAAAIBAJ&pg=1922%2C3084578 [link leads to columns 1 and 1; photograph is in columns 3-5).
The Times, 26 May 1920, page 11: Ernest Henry Beazley died on 24 May 1920 at Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, at age 43; Mr E H Beazley, a member of a prominent shipping family and a director of J H Welsford and Co Ltd, of Liverpool, has been killed in an aeroplane accident at Vancouver.
British Columbia, Attorney General, Inquisitions/inquests conducted by coroners in British Columbia, GR-0431; Volume 12: 1920, Beazley, Ernest Henry, Plane crash, 26 May 1920; http://search.bcarchives.gov.bc.ca/sn-25A3693/view/TextualRecords/find%2Bbeazley%2B%2B%2B%2B/1#1
“Decides Death Was Accidental: Investigation Into Death of E.H. Beazley is Concluded,” Vancouver Province, May 27, 1920, page 3.
“Fatal Crash Unavoidable Jury Decides: Coroner’s Jury Exonerates Pilot by Verdict at Beazley Inquest: Machine in Nose Dive: Started to Descend Spirally From a Height of 4,500 Feet, Expert Says,: Vancovuer Sun, May 27, 1920, page 1, http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oCRlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eogNAAAAIBAJ&pg=2440%2C3160475.
“Last Tribute to E.H. Beazley: Christ Church Crowded for Funeral of the Popular Shipping Man: Masters and Officers Publicly Express Sense of Loss,” Vancouver Province, May 27, 1920, page 7.
“Crowds Stand With Bowed Heads as Funeral Passes: Striking Tributes of Respect Paid at Obsequies of Late E.H. Beazley,” Vancovuer Sun, May 28, 1920, page 3, http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oSRlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eogNAAAAIBAJ&pg=4449%2C3265050.
British Columbia. Supreme Court (Vancouver), Probate/estate files, GR-1415, B08437, Beazley, E. Henry; P – 06746; Ernest Henry Beazley. [First page: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-31813-25521-77?cc=2014768&wc=M69J-D38:332530701,332530502,333316301; last page: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-31813-24806-85?cc=2014768&wc=M69J-D38:332530701,332530502,333316301.]s
Elsie Warde Braithwaite (wife of Ernest Henry Beazley)
“England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NN4M-KF8 : accessed 25 Apr 2014), Elsie Braithwaite, 09 Apr 1890; citing Everton, Lancashire, England, reference item 3 p 47; FHL microfilm 1656013.
“England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/N2GR-NQP : accessed 25 Apr 2014), Elsie Braithwaite, 09 Apr 1890; citing St Augustine, Everton, Lancashire, England, reference ; FHL microfilm 1656013.
“England and Wales, Marriage Registration Index, 1837-1920”, index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/267Y-GK8 : accessed 25 Apr 2014), Elsie W Braithwaite, 1911.
Ethel Ward Braithwaite (possible sister of Elsie Warde Braithwaite)
“England and Wales Census, 1891,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/QFJ1-72M : accessed 25 Apr 2014), Alan W B Foote, England; citing “1891 England, Scotland and Wales census,” index and images, findmypast.co.uk (www.findmypast.co.uk : Brightsolid, n.d.); PRO RG 12, county, registration district, subdistrict, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.
“Canada Passenger Lists, 1881-1922”, index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/2HLH-MLF : accessed 25 Apr 2014), Barrington A Foote, 1911.
“British Columbia Marriage Registrations, 1859-1932,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JDZZ-241 : accessed 25 Apr 2014), Philip Ward Barrington Foote and Doris Margaret Thring, 11 Jun 1912; citing Thetis Island, British Columbia, Canada, British Columbia Archives film number B11370, Division of Vital Statistics, Victoria; FHL microfilm 1983527.
“British Columbia Marriage Registrations, 1859-1932,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JDZG-HTV : accessed 25 Apr 2014), Richard Braithwaite in household of Alan Wortley Barrington Foote and Ethel Ward Braithwaite, 23 Oct 1913; citing Thetis Island, British Columbia, Canada, British Columbia Archives film number B11381, Division of Vital Statistics, Victoria; FHL microfilm 1983709.
“British Columbia Marriage Registrations, 1859-1932,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JDZ8-28J : accessed 25 Apr 2014), Randle Charles Barrington Foote and Maude Kathleen Winning, 23 Jun 1914; citing Thetis Island, British Columbia, Canada, British Columbia Archives film number B11371, Division of Vital Statistics, Victoria; FHL microfilm 1983528.
List of Persons Entitled to Vote in The Islands Electoral District, May 15th, 1916.: http://saltspringarchives.com/voters/voters1916.html, 310. Foote,v Alan Barrington, Thetis Island, farmer.
Major Alan Wortley Barrington Foote, http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=140011
Alan Wortley Barrington Foote (1885-1923); http://www.myheritage.com/FP/genealogy-search-ppc.php?type&action=person&siteId=142870691&indId=1000009&origin=profile
Flight Global Archive, https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1923/1923%20-%200322.html: “Major ALAN WORTLEY BARRINGTON FOOTE, late 11thHussars and R.A.F., who died on May 27, at Thorpe Lee House, Egham, after a long illness, aged 38, was the eldest sonof the late Col. Barrington Foote and of Mrs. Barrington Foote.”
“British Columbia Death Registrations, 1872-1986,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FLLT-YQD : accessed 25 Apr 2014), Allan B Foote in household of Mary Winnifred Foote, 23 Aug 1936; citing Victoria, British Columbia, Canada; British Columbia Archives film number B13157, Division of Vital Statistics, Victoria; FHL microfilm 1953021.
Philip Henry Graham Beazley (son of Ernest Henry Beazley)
London Gazette, March 17, 1936, page 1742, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34265/page/1742/data.pdf: “The undermentioned are granted short service commissions as Acting Pilot Officers on probation with effect from and with seniority of 2nd Mar. 1936: . . . Philip Henry Graham Beazley.”
Calgary Herald – Deaths/Articles 1990-1994, BEAZLEY, Philip Henry Graham 1991 1991 L Death
Mollie Emmeline Beazley
“New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957”, index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/24KY-2TR : accessed 25 Apr 2014), Molly Beazley, 1937.
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