Search The Archive

Search form

Collection Search
Date: 1916
Newspaper Article

LIEUT. PLATT KILLED LEADING HIS MEN

Toronto Officer Was on Patrol Duty at the Front.

WAS BRILLIANT SCHOLAR

Prominent in Athletics and Social Activities at University.

Lieut. Henry Errol Beauchamp M.A., only son of Mr. A. T. Platt, of 1574 King Street west, Toronto, was killed while leading his men on patrol duty at the front. Word to this effect was received by Mr. Platt in a cable message yesterday, which was later supplemented by an official notification from Ottawa, but no further particulars have been received. Lieut. Platt, who was of an old U. E. Loyalist family, was a member of the Queen’s Own Rifles for some time prior to the outbreak of the war, but owing to circumstances was unable to go overseas with the first contingent.He obtained a commisson at once, however, and was in charge of the guard at the Island filtration plant during the Winter of 1915 up to the time of his appointment to the 35th Battalion, with the first draft of which he went overseas in June last. After some time in England he reached the trenches in September last, and was attached to the 3rd Battalion. He was in the trenches continuously up to the time of his death, and had followed Lieut. J. A. Gairdner, who met with an injury as battalion bombing officer. Recently he was ordered to St. Omer for a machine-gun course with the Lewis quick-firing gun, and on his return,and while waiting for the arrival of the new guns, he was placed in command of the snipers, latterly being attached to the headquarters staff as intelligence officer.

Lieut. Platt received his primary education at Parkdale Collegiate Institute. He graduated from the University of Toronto with brilliant honors in the class of 1913, being awarded the Mackenzie Fellowship in Political Science. During the year
following his graduation he tutored in the economics department of the university under Prof. James Mavor, taking the master’s degree at the same time. He was a first year student at Osgoode Hall when war broke out.

While at college Lieut. Platt was prominent in all student and social activities. He played on the first University of Toronto football team, was a member of the Psi Delta Psi Fraternity, Bloor Street; the Thirteen Club,the Historical Club, and was active in the “Lit.” He was also a promising oarsman being a member of the Argonaut Rowing Club.

Original Scans

Original Scans