William Bees
Private, 1st Battalion The Derbyshire Regiment (later the Sherwood Foresters -- the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment)
- Register No.
- 71 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Private all Privates →
- Unit
- 1st Battalion The Derbyshire Regiment (later the Sherwood Foresters -- the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment) all Sherwood Foresters VCs →
- Date of action
- 30 September 1901 on this day → all of 1901 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second Boer War
- London Gazette
- 17th December 1901 on this day → all of 1901 →
- Born
- 12th September 1872 at Loughborough, Leicestershire
- Died
- 20th June 1938 at Coalville, Leicestershire
- Memorial / grave
- not known
- Medal held by
- the Sherwood Foresters Museum, Nottingham
Digest of citation
On 30th September, 1901 at Moedwil, South Africa, Private Bees was one of the Maxim gun detachment which suffered heavy casualties, six out of nine men being hit. Hearing his wounded comrades asking for water, Private Bees went forward under heavy fire to a spruit held by the Boers about 500 yards ahead of the men, and brought back a kettle filled with water. In doing this he had to pass within 100 yards of some rocks also held by the enemy and the kettle he was carrying was hit by several bullets
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
BEES, William. (Reg No. 71).
Private 1st Battalion The Derbyshire Regiment (later the Sherwood Foresters -- the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment).
London Gazetted on 17th December 1901.
VC Medal's Custodian is the Sherwood Foresters Museum, Nottingham Castle, Nottingham.
Born on 12th September 1872 at Loughborough, Leicestershire.
Died on 20th June 1938 at Coalville, Leicestershire.
Memorial not known.
Digest of Citation reads: On 30th September, 1901 at Moedwil, South Africa, Private Bees was one of the Maxim gun detachment which suffered heavy casualties, six out of nine men being hit. Hearing his wounded comrades asking for water, Private Bees went forward under heavy fire to a spruit held by the Boers about 500 yards ahead of the men, and brought back a kettle filled with water. In doing this he had to pass within 100 yards of some rocks also held by the enemy and the kettle he was carrying was hit by several bullets.
From Alf's photographs
Private William Bees Medals (Nottingham Castle Museum) (gallery)
Castle, Nottingham.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: not known
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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