 On 4 October 1914, whilst 1st Guards' Brigade was holding trenches opposite the German line at the River Aisne, Beckwith-Smith was ordered by Brigadier General Charles FitzClarence to carry out a nighttime raid against a German position known as 'Fish Hook Trench'.This was the first British trench raid of the First World War.Beckwith-Smith was still just a lieutenant at the time and the raid was considered to be a striking success.