William Arthur Bealby
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
William was born in Askham on 2nd November 1890 and was the son of of Fanny White (formerly Bealby) (nee Bullivant) of Askham,East Markham Newark and the late George Bealby, a blacksmith who had died in 1906. He was the brother of Lillian, George, Leonard and Winifred Bealby. In 1901 they lived at 36 High Street Askham. By the 1911 census William was 20 years of age and a railway platelayer and was living on Town Street, Askham with his uncle Frank Bullivant also a railway platelayer, his aunt Marion Bullivant , their three children (cousins to William ) and his siblings Lillian, Ernest , Winnie, Harold and James. He met and married his wife Lilly Hepworth in Retford on 24th March 1913, they went on to have a daughter Mary Francis born 10th August 1913 at Askham. Following William's death Lillian moved with her daughter and was staying with her father Mr J Hepworth at 77 Ashwood Road, Parkgate, Rotherham. She received a letter dated 24th March 1919 from the Ministry of Pensions , stating she would receive a pension of 20 shillings and five pence a week commencing 21st April 1919 in respect of her and her daughter.
William enlisted in Retford on 11th December 1915 , he gave his age as 25 years and 3 months his religion as Weslyean , his occupation as plate layer and his next of kin as his wife Lillian Bealby living at Askham, East Markham. He was placed into the reserves on the 12th December 1915.He was mobilised on 20th June 1917 and because of his previous work as a plate layer on the railways it seems natural that he was attested as a plate layer at Longmoor camp and posted to the 265th Railway Company, Royal Engineers. Following his initial training he embarked from Southampton on 14th September 1917 and travelled to Egypt where he disembarked at the Port of Alexandria on 27th September 1917. While in Egypt he was struck down with 'erysipelas' an acute skin infection from which he died in 76th casualty clearing station at Alexandria on 8th September 1918. he was buried in Ramleh War cemetery, Israel, grave reference CC 3
Sapper Wm Arthur Bealby Retford Times 25th Oct 1918 Mrs L Bealby of Askham has received the sad intelligence that her husband, Sapper Wm Arthur Bealby, R. E. has died of erysipelas in Egypt. He was the eldest son of Mr Geo. Bealby of Askham and leaves a widow and one child.For eight years he worked on the G. N. Railway and was well known and highly respected. He joined the Army in June 1917 and after a short leave in August of that year went to the East in September.
