Name
Frederick William Beech
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
12/09/1918
25
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
5343
Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
53rd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BRIE BRITISH CEMETERY
IV. G. 3.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin
Pre War
He was born circa 1893 and the second son of Arthur and Sarah Beech.
In 1901 the family lived at 31 Union Road, Hitchin. Arthur was 35 and a grocer’s porter, his wife, Sarah was 34. The children were listed as: Lizzie (11), Arthur (10), Willie (William) (8), Gertrude Ethel (6) and Bertie (4).
By 1911 they were living at Spinney View, Bearton Road, Hitchin. The children present now were: William, now 18 and working as a butcher, Bert, Florence (10) and Ernest (5). Arthur and Sarah were recorded as married for 24 years, with 7 children all alive.
After leaving school, William was first employed by Mr Longley the butcher in Letchworth. He went to Australia in June 1913 and was employed in dairy work as a farm labourer in Sydney.
Wartime Service
His service record is the long (70 pages) and is complicated by multiple copies, transfers and sickness (original record can be viewed at https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=3068309) Service record
He attested into the 53rd Battalion A.I.F. in Sydney on the 25th August 1915 when he was 22 years and 6 months old. His name in this record was first written as William Frederick Beech, but it changed later in the document. He was recorded as 5’ 5 ¼”, 140 lbs and was given the Regimental Number 5343.
He sailed on His Majesty’s Troop Ship (HT) Ceramic’ on the 13th April 1916 from Sydney. Disembarked at Port Said, Egypt (16/5/1916), went to 14th Training Battalion (20/5/1916). Left on HT Ivernia (21/6/1019) to Alexandria and from there to Marseilles landing 29/6/1916.
He was transferred to the 55th Battalion A.I.F. 24 May 1916, taken onto Divisional strength 29 August 1916 at Divisional Base at Etaples.
Promoted to Gunner with the TM Battery 21 September 1916 to 29th November 1916, but was in hospital sick on 11th October with an abscess on his neck. He was transferred to a Trench Mortar (TM) Battery 16th October, but was stilll sick until 6 November (abscess on his neck). On the 30th he was with the 14th Infantry Brigade. Transferred to 53rd Battalion on the 12th December, joining their L T Mortar Battery.
In 1917 he was recorded as sick 14 February, at admitted to the 15th Australian Field Ambulance with Rheumatism. Stayed there until the 26th when he was transferred to the 45th Casualty Clearing Station (CCS). On the 27th he was transferred to the 21st Ambulance Train to another hospital, 3rd Stay ty Hospital, where he stayed until 4th March, then discharged to Base Depot 17th. Marched to hospital 29th, to his unit 4th April and rejoined his unit 7th April.
He had his first and only leave in England between 11th and 24th September 1917.
He was sick again 15th October 1917, with ulcerated gingivitis, also known as trench mouth, discharged for 26th..and joined his unit on the 27th. Was sick again with Scabies 5th December, re-joined his unit 17th December.
In 1918 sick 28 January with abrased left heel, marched in from hospital 4th March, and to his unit 9th May, re-joining them on the 15th. Wounded in his right eye in action 4th July and went first to 12th CCS, then to the 5th General Hospital in Rouen. He was transferred to the 2nd Convalescence Depot in Rouen 24th and then to the 11th Convalescence Depot (Buchy), 28th and discharged to base 19th August and marched to his unit 3rd September
Frederick seems to have had a miserable time, and then, if all this was not enough, he was accidentally killed whilst under instruction with a Lewis gun when the instructor ( L/Cpl 4852, A E L Smith) fired a live round which penetrated Frederick's chest and he died within half an hour.
There was an enquiry and in the opinion of the Commanding Officer L/Cpl Smith was to blame, however the Field General Courts Martial found that he was not to blame.
He was buried in the British Military Cemetery at St. Crie near Peronne on the 14th September 1918, although the C.W.G.C. records that on 12th September 1918, he was buried in Plot N, Row G, Grave 3 in the Brie British Cemetery, Somme, France.
Additional Information
His father received Frederick’s effects on 13th December 1918
His brother Herbert served with the Royal Field Artillery.
Acknowledgments
David C Baines, www.awm.gov.au, Jonty Wild
