Guy Currey Bevington

2nd Lieutenant Guy Currey Bevington, The Dorsetshire Regiment was killed in action in Italy on 16th February 1944 and buried at the Beach Head War Cemetery, Anzio.

Guy was the youngest son of John Currey Bevington, a stockbrokers clerk, and his wife Hilda Mary, nee Burton. He was born in early 1917 in Bush Hill Park, Enfield. He had two older brothers John Rex and Timothy Burton Bevington.

In 1926 the family moved to Woodham Lodge in Bicknacre and John took an active part in the life of St Mary’s Church becoming a sidesman and vice-chairman of the Parochial Church Council. Guy’s older brothers also became sidesmen. John, who had been suffering with ill health for some time, died following a sudden chill, in April 1933 aged fifty six. He was buried in St Mary’s Churchyard.

In 1937 Guy was best man at his brother John’s marriage to Violet Skelton.

Guy joined the army, probably in early 1943, and was gazetted as a second lieutenant in the Dorsetshire Regiment in October of that year. The main battalions of the Dorsetshire Regiment were no longer serving in Italy by February 1944 but the 8th Battalion had been reconstituted as the 105th Light Anti-aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery who were serving there at this time so presumably Guy was attached to them. Light anti-aircraft units were usually equipped with 40 mm Bofurs Guns seen here.

The Allies initially landed in Sicily from 9th July 1943 with the British Eighth Army subsequently landing in the south of Italy on 3rd September 1943 followed by the Americans landing at Salerno six days later. Italy is well adapted to defensive warfare and the Germans adopted several defensive lines across the peninsular. By the end of 1943 the allies were held up by the Gustav Line and a decision was made to launch another amphibious landing behind the line at Anzio on the west coast behind the German defences.

The landing, the start of Operation Shingle, took place on 22nd January 1944. Unfortunately the American general commanding failed to break out of the beachhead and the Germans were able to bring in reinforcements fight back. The 105th LAA Regiment was part of the anti-aircraft defences at Anzio.

At 0600 on 16th February German artillery launched the initial barrage for a planned counter attack by German forces including infantry and tanks at 0630. Guy was killed on the first day of this engagement.

Guy was originally reported as missing but was later posted as killed in action. He was buried at the Beach Head War Cemetery, Anzio along with 2315 other Commonwealth dead of whom 295 were unidentified.

Guy left a will and his brother John obtained administration when his estate was estimated at £3,122 equivalent to about £170,000 today.

John Rex died in 1969 and Timothy Burton in 1987. Guy’s mother Hilda died in August 1945 and is also buried in St Mary’s Churchyard.