Village memories: Cherry Blossom (picture from SWOP website)
No picture available
PRIVATE G/4326 8TH BATTALION QUEEN’S OWN
(ROYAL WEST KENT REGIMENT)
KILLED IN ACTION 26 SEPT 1915 AGED 22YRS
REMEMBERED WITH HONOUR LOOS MEMORIAL
PAS DE CALAIS, FRANCE. (PANEL 95 -97)
Frederick William Beal was the son of William & Sarah Beal. He was born in
Buckinghamshire in 1893. William married Sarah Smith in 1888. It is possible that Sarah
had a son Thomas before the marriage as the 1891 Census shows the family as William Beal,
Sarah his wife and Thomas Smith aged 11yrs, a son. The only other reference to this is the
1881 Census where Sarah’s surname is given as Smith and she is living with her 12yr old
brother Frank and baby son Thomas aged 1yr. She is head of the family.
The 1901 Census shows the family living in Flackwell Heath and Frederick’s father is a
labourer on the roads and his mother was a mill hand in a local paper mill. Frederick is the
only child listed.
The 1911 Census shows that two children were born to Sarah & William and one died. Could
this be Thomas?
Frederick enlisted in Kent and started training at Shoreham-on-Sea, Worthing and
Blackdown. He embarked for France with the 8th Battalion on 30 Aug 1915. He spent three
weeks encamped at Montreuil before marching to the battle area on 21st September. They
marched for four nights during the hours of darkness. The troops moved towards Loos and
were in action on 26th September where Frederick must have been one of the first casualties.
Frederick is also remembered on the Little Marlow War memorial.
