31655. Private Frank Beeson
13th. (Service) (1st. Barnsley) Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment, “1st. Barnsley Pals”, 5th. Army. Born in 1893. A Cotton Spinner by Trade and unmarried. Enlisted on 30th. March 1916 at the Adjutant “Depot”, The Sherwood Foresters, Derby, joining aged 22 years 174 days, as 8124. Private, 3rd./7th. Territorial Battalion, West Riding Regiment (Duke of Wellington’s), although he stated a preference to join the Army Service Corps. 2 other Service nos. were hand written on his Attestation papers : 40500 & 5033. Frank was 5’ 3 ½” tall and had a mole on his left cheek. Lived in Nottingham. Killed in Action on Monday 25th. March 1918, aged 25, on the 5th. day of the German Spring Offensive, Codenamed “Operation Michael”, also known as “Kaisersclacht” - “The Kaiser’s Battle”. Lost Without Trace. No Known Grave. Known unto God. Commemorated on Bay 8 of The Arras Memorial to The Missing in the Faubourg-d’Amiens Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Son of the late Mrs. Harriet Beeson of 30 Hornbuckle Street, Bradford, Nottingham. Frank had 2 brothers, Percy and Albert, and a sister, Ruth. Frank’s personal property, Medals, Plaque and Memorial Scroll were sent to his mother who was paid a separation allowance of 12/6. 12 of Frank’s Comrades from the Battalion were also Killed in Action on this day.
2. Campaigns (including Actions)
Home 30.3.16 To 2.10.16
Ex Force France 3.10.16
Letter from Frank’s mother:
May 24th 1919
Mrs. H. Beeson
30 Hornbuckle Street
Radford
Nottingham
NO 2 INFANTRY RECORDS
29 MAY. 1919
YORK
Sir., Will you let me know by return whether my Son, 31655 Pte F. Beeson, 13th Battalion, York and Lancaster Regt, made a will whilst in the Army. Previous to the War, my son was employed by Messrs William Hollins & Co, Ltd, Radford, Nottingham, and this firm ran a “Profit Sharing Scheme” for the benefit of its employees: I am informed that the share allotted to my son is approx £6, and if no will was made out, I being his next of kin must take out letters of Administration, to claim the amount.
Thanking you in anticipation,
Yours faithfully, H. Beeson
Casualty Form - Active Service
for Officer i/c Territorial Inf. (Northern)
Lieut. Section. G.H.Q. 3rd. Echelon
Regiment or Corps 6th (RES.) BN. D. OF W. (W.R.) REGT.
Regimental No. 31655 Rank Pte Name Beeson Frank
Embarked. Folkestone. 3.10.1916
Disembarked. Boulogne 3.10.1916
Joined 34th. Inf. Base Depot. Etaples. 4.10.1916.
14.10.16. 34.I.B.D. Trnsfd. To 4th. (Res) Bn. York & Lancs. Regt. & posted to 13th. Bn Yorks & Lancs. Regt.13.10.16.
4.10.16. OC Bn Joined 13 Y&L The Field 14.10.16
6.1.17. 94 F.A. Admitted. P.U.O. The Field 4.1.17
13.1.17. O.C. Batt. Rejoined Battalion The Field 10.1.17.
92 F.A. Admitted Seabus The Field 2.4.17.
11 CAS Admitted Seabus The Field 4.4.17.
11 CAS To Duty The Field 10.4.17.
18.5.17. 6 F.A. Adm 952 ICI L Knee Field 14.5.17.
25.5.17. To Duty Field 20.5.17.
23.6.17. 95 F.A. Adm Constipation Field 23.6.17.
30.6.17. 94 F.A. Adm P.U.O. Field 28.6.17.
7.7.17. OC Bn Rejoined Bn Field 2.7.17.
12.1.18. Granted leave to U.K. FIELD
from 25.11.17. TO 9.12.17.
1.4.18. OC Bn KILLED IN ACTION Field
At 4.40am on the morning of 21st. March, 1918, the beginning of the end of trench warfare opened with the most massive concentrated Artillery barrage of the War. Seven thousand German Artillery pieces began firing off over one million shells, a quarter of them being gas shells, at the unsuspecting British Fifth Army.
This is what Captain Ernst Junger of the 73rd. Hanoverian Fusiliers heard and saw:
“A tremendous roll of fire brought us to our feet; our uncertainty was dispersed by the instantaneous crash, the like of which has never been heard before by land or sea, from thousands upon thousands of guns roaring out on a front of 30 miles, and we knew that the hurricane had broken on us at last. The noise transcended anything I had ever conceived. We were stunned by the concussions of literally thousands of bursting shells, and although the light was uncertain, for there hung a mist, we could see that all our front stood wrapped in a sea of smoke and flame, as the earth heaved and twisted under our feet. Supported by a creeping barrage of Artillery fire, squads of elite Storm-Troopers, armed with Automatic Rifles, Light Machine-Guns and Flame-Throwers, penetrated the shattered front line of the British Fifth Army. They broke through lines held for over 3 years and advanced 14 miles, the greatest gain of territory since the beginning of the War.”
Barry Jenkins