William Henry Beach

Major-General William Henry Beach (1871-1952) was a senior British Army officer and a Colonel Commandant of the Royal Engineers from 1936 to 1941.

Early life and education
Beach was born in Brompton, the elder son of the Rev. Canon W. R. Beach, Chaplain to the Forces, and was educated at Bloxham School. He was the younger brother of Thomas Boswall Beach.

Military career
Beach was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in 1889. After service in England and Ireland he moved to India in 1894. He served with the Mohmand Field Force in 1908 and was on the General Staff between 1916 and 1919, when he was Deputy Director of Intelligence. Following the First World War, Beach served in India. He was Temporary Colonel Commandant commanding 21st Indian Infantry Brigade (1923-27) and was Aide-de-Camp to King George V in 1925. He commanded 42 (East Lancs) Division from 1929 to 1932.

Later life
Beach retired from the Army in 1932 and then worked on the Council of the Regular Forces Employment Association and the Council of the Voluntary Aid Detachment. Between 1936 and 1941 he was Colonel Commandant of the Royal Engineers. Beach died on the 22 July 1952 aged 81 in Surrey, England.

Honours and awards
Beach was made a CMG in 1917 and a CB in 1919. He was awarded the DSO in 1916.