Bowman-Beer went to school in South Twerton, Somerset. Records from the school show that he was a student-teacher at the school at the age of 18. During the First World War, conscientious objectors (CO) claimed the right to refuse military service on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. In June of 1916 the Bath City Tribunal, in charge of hearing cases of men who sought military exemptions as COs, met to discuss the case of Mr Harold E. G. Beer. [1] [2]
“[Harold] asked for exemption until September next, when he sits a matriculation examination, and for conditional exemption afterwards on conscientious grounds. He stated that he had already communicated with a farmer in Wiltshire (farming was sometimes considered ‘protected’ work) who was ready to employ him after the examination in September. The Recruiting Officer objected, saying the youth should either serve or do work of national importance. A question being raised about joining the Volunteers, Beer’s father said his son was so fully occupied in studying for his examination he had no time for drill of any kind. The Chairman said a certificate (of exemption) would be granted until the boy was 19, conditional on him continuing in his present training. He added he felt conscientious objections should be the established convictions of a man and not the fancied opinions of a boy. Mr Beer said he was engaged in religious work in the city, and his son had been brought up in a religious atmosphere. The Town Clerk said the exemption would expire on April 22nd (the applicant’s 19th birthday).” [1]
Bowman-Beer graduated from the University of Bristol as a physicist in 1920 and studied for an MSc the following year. His interest in geology was garnered after taking a course in Nottingham and taught at a grammar school in the area for 26 years of his life.
“Wherever he travelled his geological hammer was to hand and as he drove through the countryside even the uninitiated became enthralled by his commentary on the structure of the passing landscape. He created a large geological collection which was donated to the University of Bristol in 1974 including many minerals” [3]
Bowman-Beers’s collection was donated to the university in 1974 upon his death.
[1] South Twerton School (oldfieldparkww1.co.uk)
[2] HAROLD E.G. BEER (menwhosaidno.org)
[3] Bowman-Beer, Harold Edward George 1974 Ann. rept. The Geological Society (geolsoc.org.uk)