Tom Bevan (1868 – 9 November 1937), who also wrote under the pseudonym Walter Bamfylde, was a British writer of boys' adventure stories. Originally a schoolteacher, he also wrote non-fiction books for children.
Life Born in Risca, Monmouthshire, Bevan's family moved to Gloucester and he was educated at Sir Thomas Rich's School, Gloucester, and St Paul's College, Cheltenham, a teacher training college that awarded Bristol University qualifications.Tom Bevan, Reading the Forest. Retrieved 16 November 2022
Bevan began writing historical adventure stories while working as a schoolmaster. In the 1920s he was education editor for Sampson Low and Marston. He contributed to several boys' magazines, including Everybody's Story Magazine and Boy's Own Paper.Stanley Nichols, "Roving Thoughts on the 'B.O.P.'", Golden Hours 6:1 (December 1962), p. 81. For example, The Baymouth Scouts was serialised in the Boy's Own Paper in 1911–1912. British Juvenile Story Papers and Pocket Libraries Index
Bevan also wrote non-fiction books for children. His Stories from British History: B. C. 54 – A. D. 1485 discusses, for example, the degree to which Shakespeare's History Plays present historical truth.Velma Bourgeois Richmond: Shakespeare as Children's Literature: Edwardian Retellings in Words and Pictures (Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company Inc., 2008), p. 264 Retrieved 11 October 2017.
He died in Cheltenham on 9 November 1937.
Works Books (With E. Harcourt Burrage and John A. Higginson) White Ivory and Black: a tale of the Zambesi Basin: and other stories, London: S. W. Partridge & Co., 1899 The Thane of the Dean: a tale of the time of the Conqueror, London: S. W. Partridge & Co., 1899. With four illustrations by Lancelot Speed Dick Dale, the Colonial Scout: a tale of the Transvaal War of 1899–1900, London: S. W. Partridge & Co., 1900. with eight illustrations by Harold Piffard A Lion of Wessex, or, How Saxon fought Dane, London: S. W. Partridge & Co., . With eight illustrations by Lancelot Speed Against the King, London; Glasgow: W. Collins, Sons & Co. Red Dickon the Outlaw : A story of mediaeval England, London: Nelson, 1904 The War-God and the Brown Maiden, London: Collins . With eight illustrations by Warwick Goble A Hero in Wolf-Skin : a story of pagan and Christian, London: Religious Tract Society, 1904. With illustrations by J. Finnemore Beggars of the Sea. A story of the Dutch struggle with Spain, London: Thomas Nelson and Sons [1904?] A Trooper of the Finns. A tale of the Thirty Years' War, London: Religious Tract Society, 1905 The Fen Robbers, London: T. Nelson & Sons, 1906 Held by Rebels, London, 1906. Illustrated by Percy Tarrant Beggars of the Sea: A Story of the Dutch struggle with Spain, London, 1906 Sea-Dogs All! A tale of forest and sea, London, 1907 The Goldsmith of Chepe: A Tale of The Plague Year, London: The Religious Tract Society, 1908. With illustrations by J. Jellicoe. (Serialised in the Boys Own Paper, 1907) Runners of Contraband: a story of Russian Tyranny, London, 1908. With illustrations by Wal Paget The "Grey Fox" of Holland: a tale of adventure during the insurrection against Philip II, London/New York: T. Nelson & Sons, 1908 The Chancellor's Spy. A vivid picture of life in the reign of Henry the Eighth, London: T. Nelson & Sons, 1909 The Insurgent Trail: A story of the Balkans, London: Sir I. Pitman & Sons, 1910 The Secret Men, London: S. W. Partridge & Co., 1910. With six illustrations by Ernest Prater. Stories from British history (B. C. 54 – A. D. 1485), 1910 The House Of Hanover, 1714 to 1901, 1911 Rebels And Rogues, 1911 Out With The Buccaneers; or, The Treasure of The Snake, London: S. W. Partridge & Co., 1911 Trapped In Tripoli; or, A Boy's Adventures in The Desert, London: S. W. Partridge & Co., 1912 One of the Awkward Squad, London: James Nisbet & Co, 1912 The Baymouth Scouts: A Story of The Napoleon Scare, London: The Religious Tract Society, 1913 With Bandit And Turk, London: S. W. Partridge & Co., 1913 The Uplanders, London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co., 1914 (as Walter Bamfylde) Midsummer Magic, 1915 (as Walter Bamfylde) With Haig At The Front: A Story Of The Great Fight, London: Collins Clear-type Press, 1916 With Cossack And Car In Galicia, London: Collins Clear-type Press, 1917 The Last Of The Giants: A Story Of Arctic Canada, London: Thomas Nelson and Sons, 1920 Doing His Bit: A Story of the Great War, London: Thomas Nelson and Sons, 1920 Bob Blair, Plainsman, London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co., 1924 The Heroic Impostor, London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co., 1925 The Secret of the Downs, London: Collins Clear-Type Press, 1927
Stories "Young Asa - A Scouting Story", Oxford Annual For Scouts, [1920s?]
References