The Right Honourable The Lord Chelwood MC DL |
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Member of Parliament for Lewes |
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In office 1945–1974 |
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Preceded by | Tufton Percy Hamilton Beamish |
Succeeded by | Tim Rathbone |
Personal details | |
Born | 27 January 1917 |
Died | 6 April 1989 | (aged 72)
Nationality | British |
Political party | Conservative |
Spouse(s) |
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Relations | Tufton Percy Hamilton Beamish (father) |
Children | Claudia Hamilton Beamish |
Alma mater | Royal Military College, Sandhurst |
Awards |
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Military service | |
Allegiance |
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Service/branch |
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Years of service | 1937–1945 |
Rank | Captain |
Unit | Royal Northumberland Fusiliers |
Battles/wars |
World War II |
World War II
Tufton Victor Hamilton Beamish, Baron Chelwood, MC, DL (27 January 1917 – 6 April 1989) was a British Army officer, Conservative Party Member of Parliament for Lewes (1945–1974), and author.
During the Second World War, he served in France, Belgium (1940), Malaya (1942), India and Burma (1942–43), North Africa and Italy (1943–44). In 1940 he was awarded the Military Cross; was knighted in 1961 and upon his retirement from the House of Commons was created a life peer as Baron Chelwood, of Lewes in the County of East Sussex in May 1974.
Beamish's father was Tufton Percy Hamilton Beamish who served in the Royal Navy until 1925 when he retired with the rank of Rear Admiral. He had followed his career in the Navy by entering politics and served as the member of Parliament for Lewes from 1924 until 1931 and again from 1936 until 1945.
Beamish was educated at Stowe School and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He received his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers in 1937. In 1938 Beamish served in Cairo and Palestine and developed a lifelong interest in the Arab people of the region. After the outbreak of the Second World War, he was transferred to France as a company commander with the British Expeditionary Force. Beamish was wounded on the retreat to Dunkirk and managed to secure his evacuation.