WW1 Casualty: Private 3940 Walter Beesley - Private 3940 Walter Beesley
Prescot Reporter 01/09/1916
| Unit/Regiment |
1st/5th Bn., South Lancashire Regiment |
| Date of Death |
10/08/1916 |
Age at Death |
26 |
Burial/Memorial
& Reference |
Thiepval Memorial
Pier and Face 7A and 7B |
| CWGC Family Details (if shown) |
Son of Mrs. Margaret Beesley, of 3, Sewell Gardens, Sewell St., Prescot, Lancs.
Birth Registered Q1/1891, 8b, 705 |
| Census Details |
1901 Census -
Living at Court No 6, Houghton Street, Prescot. Walter Beesley aged 10, with parents Alfred and Margaret (both 37), Maud (12), Mary (7) and Sarah (2).
1911 Census -
The Beesley familiy still lived at 6 Court, Houghton Street. Margaret Bradshaw Beesley, a 47 year old widow, worked as a Laundress. Living with her were sons Walter Bradshaw Beesley, a 23 year old labourer at the Wire Works, and Alfred Bradshwaw Beesley, 20, who also worked at BI as a Copper Wire Worker. Daughter Maud, now 22, still lived at home but was married to John Britland, a 23 year old Railway Porter. They had a 2 year old daughter, Mary. |
| Enlisted |
St Helens |
| Resided |
Prescot |
| How Died |
Killed In Action |
Theatre of War |
France & Flanders |
| Research Ref. No. |
P014 |
Service DetailsWalter was born on 15th January 1891 in Prescot, the son of Alfred and Margaret Beesley. At the time of his birth, the family lived in New cross Street.
Walter Beesley's attestation reports that he lived at 2 Court, Houghton Street, Prescot when he joined up for active service on 27th May 1915 in St Helens. He was shown to be aged 24 years and 5 months, was 5ft 11 in height with a chest measurement of 37 inches, expandable by a further 2 inches. His vision and physical development are both 'good', and the Medical Officer recorded him as fit for active service.
He remained stationed in the UK until 15th January 1916, when he embarked for France, arriving the following day.
As part of the Somme offensive, which had commenced on 1st July 1916, on 8th August, the battalion was ordered to capture the village of Guillemont, which had defied all previous attempts at capture and was a thorn in the side of the British forces. The attack commenced at 4.20 a.m. and initially all objectives were taken despite strong resistance. By the end of the day, the Railway Station and the front line trenches in front of the village were in allied hands. Orders were then received to be ready to continue the attack the following morning.
Zero hour was again at 4.20 a.m. and the initial assault was met with withering machine gun fire from the German defenders, resulting in the troops falling back to their starting points. This also resulted in the companies being heavily mixed up and it was noon before reorganisation was complete. After this, the battalion remained near Trones Wood until the 10th, clearing the dead of the previous two days of battle and consolidating the ground won at such a heavy cost. On the evening of the 10th, they were withdrawn to bivouac and then on the 12th returned to the line at Maltz Horn Farm.
Private Beesley's record carries no additional information before his death on 10th August 1916 as part of the assault on Guillemont. His body was never recovered and he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial. His medal entitlement is listed as the British War Medal and the Victory Medal, as shown below on his Medal Index Card.
An extract from Walter Beesley's service record, showing his periods of service at home and in France up to his death in August 1916
Operation orders for attack received and Btn moves forward to get into position for an attack. 166 Inf Bde ordered to attack as follows:
August 8 12 midnight
1st Objective: Enemy front line from T25 b 1.5 through T25 a 3.3 to S24 d 65.75
2nd Objective: The capture of GUILLEMONT and of a line on the eastern side of the village from T25 b 1.5 to the Railway T19 b 0.3. 10th Liverpool Scottish to attack on the right and 5th Loyal North Lancs Regt on the left. The boundary between being TRONES WOOD - GUILLEMONT Road as far as T25 a 0.8. Thence a straight line running North East through the Church to the GUILLEMONT - LEOZE WOOD Road, to 5th Loyal North Lancs Regt. 5th South Lancs Regt to support the right Btn. Zero hour 4.30am.
In moving up valley was found blocked with troops and transport.
August 9 2am
Commanding Officer with Adjutant arrived at proposed Btn Hqrs A5d 8g and found 2 Btn 165 Inf Bde (5th and 7th Kings Liverpool) in possession. Informed 166 Inf Bde Hqrs and were told to move up to Sunken Road T30c
August 9 3am
Established Hqrs in Sunken Road. Company Officers warned of changed Hqrs and sent for to explain changed scheme of attack as issued in Operation orders. No time to go into detail or for Coy Comdrs to explain to Coy Officers and N.C.O's as attack was timed for 4.20am. Owing to all N.C.O's and Btn and Coy runners having no idea of the country and the sunken road being crowded with men of 164 Bde great delay was caused in getting the Coys out in position.
August 9 3.55am
North Lancs just arriving and Officer in Command said he had only just heard that they were going to attack.
August 9 4.15am
Our guns opened a Heavy Barrage and the Germans dropped their Barrage within 3 minutes. Their back barrage line being our sunken road. Companies not all in position had to move thro Barrage. Those in position moved forward behind assaulting waves but whole line was unable to make headway owing to machine gun fire and heavy barrage. Whole line fell back and manned our original front line, Coys hopelessly intermixed with men of other attacking battalions.
August 9 12noon
Orders to withdraw Coys from line and relieve 1/5 Loyal North Lancs in Left Sector in front of TRONES WOOD. Relief completed 5pm. 5th Kings Own relieved 10th Liverpool Regt, on our right, also during afternoon.
August 9 5pm to August 10 midday
Btn worked hard clearing trenches and consolidating line.
August 10 4pm
Relief started by 8th West Kent Regt 72nd Bde. Relief complete 8pm and Btn moved back to Bivouacs in F22.
Total casualties from 12 midnight 8th to 12 midnight 10th 8 Officers 130 other ranks.
Walter Beesley's Medal Index Card
Announcement in the Prescot Reporter, 14th September 1917
Walter Beesley's inscription on the Thiepval Memorial, pictured on Monday 21st February 2011
The Register of Soldiers Effects lists Walter's mother, Margaret, and sister Sarah as his joint legatees
Walter's service is commemorated on the BICC Memorial and EFD Roll of Honour
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