Name
Herbert Beach
1885
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
24/06/1917
32 years
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
G/10207
The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
1st Battalion.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LOOS MEMORIAL
Panel 15 to 19.
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is Commemorated on the Loos Memorial to the missing.
UK & Other Memorials
Hatfield Town Memorial, Hatfield In Memoriam Book, St Luke's Church Memorial, Bishops Hatfield
Pre War
Herbert Beach was born in Hatfield, Herts, in 1885, son of William Beach (B 1849 in St Albans) and Mary Beach (B 1849 in Hatfield) the youngest of four children.
1891 Census records Herbert aged 6, at school, living with his parents, brothers William 17 and Charles 8, in Newtown Cottages, Hatfield, Herts. His father was working is an agricultural labourer and his mother was a laundress.
By 1901 Herbert had left school and was working as a General Labourer, living at home with his widowed mother, two brothers and sister Jessie, in St Albans Road, Newtown, Hatfield. His mother was still working as a laundress and Herbert as a general labourer.
Herbert married Ethel Louise Shawyer on 2nd November 1907, in Hertford, they went on to have five children, Clarence, Douglas, Queenie, Cyril and Beatrice.
Herbert lived at 6 Union Lane, Hatfield. He had married on 2/11/1907 to an Ethel Shaw in Hertford. By the time of Herbert’s death in 1917 they had five children.
By 1911 Herbert and Ethel had two children, and were living at 6 Union Lane, Hatfield. He was employed as a Bottler and Corker at the local brewery.
Officially recorded living in Hatfield when he enlisted in At Albans.
Wartime Service
Herbert enlisted in St Albans on 21st November 1915, aged 29, and posted to the reserve. He was in good health although had a problem with his teeth. He was 5ft 7½ inches tall.
He was mobilised on 30th May 1916, and posted to the 3rd Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent) Regiment on 1st June 1916, with the Service No. G/10207. On 25th October 1916 he was transferred to the 1st Battalion, East Kent Regiment and was mobilised on 30/5/1916. . His service record shows he underwent training as a Bomber.
Herbert’s military history shows that he was on Home service between 30th May 1916 and -24th October 1916, then with British Expeditionary Forces 25/101916 until his death.
Herbert was posted missing on 24th June 1917, and later presumed Killed in Action. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the CWGC Loos Memorial to the missing in France.
The Bishops Hatfield Parish Magazine of July 1916 recorded in its 23rd list of men mobilised from Hatfield: “Herbert Beach – Newtown - 3rd East Kent Regt.” And then in August 1917: “Our deepest sympathies go to the families of Herbert Parrott, Herbert Beech, and Charles Massam in the loss which both they and their Country have sustained in their death. (Note different spelling of Beach but assume this is a printing error).”
British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Additional Information
After the war his wife was awarded a pension of 31/3d (approx £1.56p) for herself and five children.
Hatfield Parish Council Souvenir Committee Ledger: Mrs E Beach (Widow) of Ground Lane, Hatfield received an “In Memoriam and Roll of Honour Album”.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild, Christine & Derek Martindale, Hatfield Local History Society (www.hatfieldhistory.uk)
