BEDDINGTON

BEDDINGTON, English family of businessmen, philanthropists, and soldiers, originally named Moses. HENRY MOSES (c. 1791–1875) became a wealthy wholesale clothing merchant in London, with links to the New Zealand wool trade, and left £500,000 at his death. In 1868, his children changed their surname to Beddington, a suburb in south London, giving rise to much humorous commentary. Henry Moses' son MAURICE BEDDINGTON (1821–1898), a London wool broker, left over £1 million. The family also branched out into the tobacco business and founded the Abdullah cigarette company. ALFRED HENRY BEDDINGTON (1835–1900) was active in the life of the London Jewish community. In World War I, 37 members of the family served in the British forces. They included Lieutenant-Colonel CLAUDE (1868–1940) who fought in the South African War and was in command of the Mounted Troops of the 20th Division in France in World War I. He became an enthusiastic yachtsman. SIR EDWARD HENRY LIONEL (1884–1966) was a career officer in the British cavalry and, after having taken part in World War I, retired from active service in 1920. At the outbreak of World War II he rejoined the army, became deputy director of Military Intelligence, and rose to the rank of brigadier. WILLIAM RICHARD (1893–1975) entered the British army shortly before World War I, served in France and the Mediterranean area, and was wounded in action. In 1939 he became officer commanding the 2nd Royal Dragoon Guards (The Queen's Bays). He held various staff appointments in the Middle East, Italy, and North Africa, and finally joined Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Forces (SHAEF). In 1946 he rose to the rank of major general and retired in 1947. Henry Moses' grandson JOHN LOUIS ("JACK") BEDDINGTON (1893–1959) became one of the most famous advertising poster designers of the 20th century. -BIBLIOGRAPHY: P.H. Emden, Jews of Britain (1943), 447,449, 548; J. Ben Hirsh, Jewish General Officers (1967), 76–77. ADD. BIBLIOGRAPHY: L.D. Nathan, As Old As Auckland (1984); "John Louis Beddington," in: ODNB online.