The Times, Monday, June 25, 1923:
Brigadier General Sir Alington Bewicke Copley, KBE, CB, died on Saturday night at Sprotborough Hall, Doncaster, from pneumonia, aged 68. He had recently returned from a visit to South America.
The elder son of Robert Calverley Bewicke, JP , DL , of Coulby Manor, near Middlesbrough, Robert Calverley Alington Bewicke was born at Shotton Hall, Durham, on April 8, 1855. He was educated at Rugby and Merton College, Oxford. He obtained his commission in the 1st Foot in 1876, transferring to the 60th Foot a year later, and from February to November, 1884, he was ADC to the Lieutenant General of Bengal. He served with the Nile Expedition, 1884 85 (Medal with clasp and bronze star) and in 1888 he graduated at the Staff College. In May, 1890, he was appointed DAAG , Barbados, going in a similar capacity to Ireland two years later. In 1894 he was appointed Military Attaché to the Special Mission to Morocco, and in 1897 he joined the 1st King's Royal Rifles in India and served with the Tirah Relief Force (Medal with clasp)
In November, 1896, he became Assistant Military Secretary and A D C to Lieut Gen Sir Baker Russell, commanding the Forces in Bengal, and whilst holding that post served on the North West Frontier, 1897 98, when he was present at the operations in the Kurram Valley and at the relief of Gulistan, being mentioned in despatches (two clasps), and he also served as DAQMG for Intelligence with the Tirah Expedition, 1898, and again mentioned (clasp) Vacating his Staff appointment in India in June 1898, he was appointed second in command of the 3rd King's Royal Rifles in January, 1899, going with that unit to South Africa later in the year and commanding it in the field. In March 1900, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and posted to the 1st Battalion. Subsequently he was in command of a mobile column. He was at the relief of Ladysmith, including the actions at Colenso, Spion Kop and Vaal Krantz, the operations on Tugela Heights, and the action at Pieter's Hill, being twice mentioned in despatches and given the CB (Queen's Medal with six clasps, King's Medal with two clasps).
In July, 1905, he was appointed AAG, Northern Command, and in May 1909, he was given the command of the 17th Infantry Brigade at Cork. He retired in 1912, but when the War broke out he took the command of the West Riding Volunteers, and was created KBE in 1919. At the last General Election he was Conservative candidate for Doncaster.
In 1886, he married Selina Frances, eldest surviving daughter of Sir Charles Watson Copley, Bt, of Sprotborough Hall and in 1892, on succeeding to Sprotborough jure uxoris he assumed the additional surname and arms of Copley. Lady Bewicke Copley petitioned that the abeyance since 1497 of the ancient barony of Cromwell, created by writ of summons 49, Edward III, should be terminated in her favour. In March, 1922, the Committee of Privileges reported in accordance with her petition.
Sir Alington Bewicke Copley's elder son, Captain A L C Bewicke Copley, Coldstream Guards, was killed in action in 1916. He leaves another son, Captain R G Bewicke Copley, MC, KRRC, and two daughters.
KBE (Military) 1st Type, neck badge and breast star
CB (Military) silver gilt and enamel breast badge, 29 Nov 00
Egypt Medal, clasp 'The Nile 1884 5' (Lieut)
IGS 1895, clasps 'Relief of Chitral 1895' 'Samana 1897' 'Punjab Frontier1897-98'
'Tirah 197 98' (Maj KRRC)
QSA clasps 'Cape Colony' 'Tugela Heights' 'Orange Free State' 'Relief of Ladysmith'
'Transvaal' 'Laings Nek' (Lt Col) KSA clasps 'South Africa 1901' 'South Africa 1902' (Lt Col CB ) 1911 Coronation Medal Khedive's Star 1884-6
