Ernest Frederick Beal
Second Lieutenant, 13th (S) Battalion. The Yorkshire Regiment
- Register No.
- 67 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Second Lieutenant all Second Lieutenants →
- Unit
- 13th (S) Battalion. The Yorkshire Regiment (register: Green Howards) all Green Howards VCs →
- Date of action
- 21–22 March 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 4th June 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Born
- 27th January 1885 at Brighton, Sussex
- Died
- 22nd March 1918 at St Leger, France
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- Arras Memorial, France
- Medal held by
- the Green Howards Museum
Digest of citation
On 21st/22nd March 1918 at San Leger, France, Second Lieutenant Beal was in command of a company detailed to occupy a certain section of trench. When the company was established it was found necessary to clear a gap of about 400 yards held by the enemy between the left flank of the company and a neighbouring unit. Second Lieutenant Beal therefore organised a small party and led them along the trench, capturing four machine-guns and inflicting heavy casualties. Later in the evening he brought in on his back a wounded man who was lying close to an enemy machine gun
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
BEAL, Ernest Frederick. (Reg. No. 67)
Second Lieutenant 13th (S) Battalion. The Yorkshire Regiment. (Alexandra, Princess of Wales' Own).
London Gazetted on 4th June 1918.
VC Medal's Custodian is the Green Howards Museum.
Born on 27th January 1885 at Brighton, Sussex.
Died on 22nd March 1918 at St Leger, France.
Memorial at Arras Memorial, France.
Digest of Citation reads: On 21st/22nd March 1918 at San Leger, France, Second Lieutenant Beal was in command of a company detailed to occupy a certain section of trench. When the company was established it was found necessary to clear a gap of about 400 yards held by the enemy between the left flank of the company and a neighbouring unit. Second Lieutenant Beal therefore organised a small party and led them along the trench, capturing four machine-guns and inflicting heavy casualties. Later in the evening he brought in on his back a wounded man who was lying close to an enemy machine gun.
(Alexandra, Princess of Wales' Own).
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Arras Memorial, France
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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