Edward Beech
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Edward was the son of William and Amelia Beech. On both the 1891 and 1901 census he is living with his parents at 56 Brassey Street, Radford. Married Mabel Grice in 1911. On the 1911 Census they are living at 43 Dorset St, Radford. At the time of his death, he is listed as living at 12 St Peter's Avenue, St Peter's Street, Radford, Nottingham. His brother, William, also served in the 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers; he was made a prisoner of war in August 1914 and survived the war.
Originally served in C Company (renamed Y Company in September 1914) and then A Company (renamed W Company in Sept 1914) when he recovered from his wounds Originally joined the army in 1903, serving in 2nd Bn Northumberland Fusiliers and left in 1910 going into the reserves. He went to France with the initial draft leaving Southampton on 13th August 1914 on the SS Norman and landing on the morning of 14th August. Edward fought at Mons, where C Company defended the canal bank at Mariette Bridge, Frameries, Le Cateau, the Battle of the Marne and the Battle of the Aisne, where he was wounded on 14th September at Vailly in an attack on German trenches. On 16th June 1915, 9th Brigade, including 1st Northumberland Fusiliers, attacked the German trenches on Bellewaarde Ridge. The battalion went into action with 15 officers and 645 NCO and men. Of these, all the officers and 439 of the NCO and men became casualties. 136 men were killed in action of whom one was Edward. His brother William was also a reservist with 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers and like his brother was recalled in August 1914 and went to France with the initial draft. He had originally enlisted in 1905 and at the time lived at 9 Cobden St, Radford. He fought at Mons and was wounded by shrapnel in his left leg at Frameries on 24th August 1914 and was captured. He wasn't confirmed as a POW until March 1915. He was held in various camps and was interned in Holland in 1918. William finally returned to the UK aboard the SS Porto landing on 22nd November 1918 at Hull.
He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate. His medals came up on E bay in 2012 and are now in the possession of his family. A new memorial to those officers and men killed at Bellewaarde will be unveiled at the Hooge Museum on 16th June 2015 the 100th Anniversary of their deaths. Nottingham Post obituary (abridged), 26 July 1915: 'Private E Beech, 1st Northumberland Fusiliers, 12 St Peter's Avenue, St Peter's Street, Radford, killed in action June 16th.'
