Name
Walter Beedle
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/11/1918
34
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
203136
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st/5th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BEIRUT WAR CEMETERY
179.
Lebanon
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Much Hadham Village Memorial, St Andrew’s Church Memorial, Much Hadham, Bench Plaque, High Street, Much Hadham, Stone Bench Plaque, Much Hadham, Congregational Church Memorial, Hadham Cross, Not on the Thundridge memorials (*1)
Pre War
Born on 24 Jul 1884 and baptised on 27 Jul 1884 in Newdigate, Surrey son of Walter and Mary Ann Beedle.
He married Alice Jane May Rapley in Cranleigh, Surrey on 14 Jun 1910 and they lived at Stone Lodge, Barrowfield, Much Hadham, Hertfordshire. He was a gardener and a special constable.
Wartime Service
Enlisted at Much Hadham in October 1916 and was formerly Private 9161 Bedfordshire Regiment. The following February was drafted to Egypt.
During 1918, the 5th Bedfordshire Regiment suffered a few casualties from men being killed or wounded during battle. However, they suffered mostly from men being hospitalised, with many of them dying through sickness. 5th Bedfordshire War Diary Extract: 31st October 1918-“Armistice between Turkey and Allies. During the month epidemic of fever has been experienced. Malarial cases being numerous.” Over 100 were hospitalised in July. Walter died in the 15th Casualty Clearing Hospital in Beirut.
Additional Information
*1 We have been informed that his name appears in the Thundridge graveyard, possibly on a family headstone, but a connection has yet to be confirmed
Acknowledgments
Malcolm Lennox, “Lest We Forget – Much Hadham 1914-18” by Richard Maddams (Much Hadham Forge Museum)
