Other Information:Jim, and his identical twin brother Arthur Joseph Beveridge, RAMC, were matriculated, in 1910, into the UCD Medical School (Cecilia Street), from Belvedere College, Dublin, and did their clinical training at St Vincent’s Hospital, where Jim won the Junior Class Prize in 1913. They joined the Royal College of Surgeons Officer Training Corps and in 1914 received commissions in the Royal Army Medical Corps, Special Reserve. This provided a small but much-needed source of income during their final year. They had a good social life, belonging to a lively group of young men and women who called themselves "The Horsy Fellows" (nobody is quite sure why) and early in 1915 Jim and Arthur were co-founders of UCD Swimming Club. Later that year they both graduated M.B., B.Ch. with honours. During 1916 they were transferred to England and underwent three months’ officer training near Aldershot, which included riding lessons. Jim was put in charge of 137 Field Ambulance, and in the late summer of 1916 he was sent to the front with the Field Ambulance (many of whom he had helped to train). During his service in France he was held in the highest esteem. His commanding officer wrote of him as "an exceptionally brilliant officer". Arthur, his twin, was posted not far away, and they managed to meet about once a week. A report in the Belvederian early in 1917 noted that Arthur had returned home on leave after nine months’ service, and that Jim had been unwell, being cared for in Rouen, but had recovered enough to return to the front. Jim died while in action near Cambrai, France. He had worked on unceasingly until stricken down by many wounds. In this state he was found by the Catholic chaplain, who administered the last rites of the Church. He died shortly afterwards. He was deeply loved by his men. One of them, speaking to his mother shortly after his death, said "You may rest assured that Captain Beveridge was not left lying out for long after he was wounded, as his men would follow him anywhere, they loved him so much". Jim’s cheerful disposition had won him many friends and when the news broke there was profound grief not only within the immediate family, but also throughout his extended family and circle of friends. When the telegram came, two of his sisters intercepted it and walked around Belgrave Square for a couple of hours debating how to break the news to their mother, before returning home. Jim and Arthur were the youngest sons of John Beveridge, BL, Town Clerk of Dublin and his second wife Jane (née Healy) of 33 Belgrave Square, Rathmines, Co. Dublin. (Photograph: The Lancet) [Information kindly provided by family]
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