Beesley, W A
WILLIAM ARTHUR BEESLEY
Remembered with honour Ramleh War Cemetery: Row C, Grave 24.
He enlisted in Watford in September 1914, and originally served in the 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment as Private 14587 in France during 1915, until wounded and returned to England. After recovering, he was shipped to the 5th Battalion, joining them in February 1916. William won his Military Medal during the second raids against Umbrella Hill on 27 July 1917, and is mentioned in the London Gazette. He was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 27 April 1915, and was killed in action during a bayonet charge against Turkish positions on Yafa Hill, Palestine. Unfortunately, William’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
There is an article about William in the St Michael’s Church Parish Magazine dated December 1917.
Son of Edward and Lydia Hannah (nee BUROW) BEESLEY of Watford.
His parents married 26 April 1891 at Sts Peter and Paul’s, Swanscombe, Kent. Lydia died 18 March 1922 in Watford aged 55, and was buried 22 March in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Edward died 21 January 1958 in Paddington, London, aged 94, and was buried 24 January in West London Cemetery, Kensal Green, London.
William was born 1894 in Bushey, Herts, and baptised 13 April 1894 at St Matthew’s, Oxhey, Herts. He resided in Watford.
On the 1901 Census, aged 7 he lived in Oxhey, with his parents and two siblings. On the 1911 Census, an apprentice at photo works aged 17, he lived in Watford, with his parents and two siblings.
Service number
201122Rank
PrivateUnit
1st/5th BattalionRegiment
Place buried
Date of death
22/12/1917Age at death
23Place of death
Awards
M.M.Memorial(s)
Notes
William is also commemorated on his mother's grave in Vicarage Road Cemetery- 1st S.W. Herts Scout Troop [in St Mary's Parish Church Watford] (4)
- Abbot's Langley Herts War Memorial (17)
- Aldbury Herts War Memorial (1)
- Aldenham Herts War Memorial (located in Letchmore Heath Herts) (8)
- All Saints Church Croxley Green Herts (12)
- All Saints Church Harrow Weald Middx (2)
- All Saints Church Hertford (1)
- All Saints Church King's Langley Herts (1)
- All Saints Church Leavesden Herts (31)
- All Saints Church Witham Essex (3)