Name
Thomas James Beer
15/09/1892
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
17/10/1915
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
21347
Grenadier Guards
4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
VERMELLES BRITISH CEMETERY
I. C. 9.
France
Headstone Inscription
DEATH DIVIDES MEMORY CLINGS
UK & Other Memorials
Cheshunt Town Memorial, Christ Church (Formerly Holy Trinity Church) Memorial, Waltham Cross.
Pre War
Thomas James Beer was born at Limehouse, London, Middx, on 15 September 1892, son of William Beer, a Saw Sharpener, and Mary Elizabeth Beer (nee Cook). One of six children although one died in infancy.
Baptised at St Anne’s Church, Limehouse, Lon/Middx, on 26th October 1892. At the time the family were living at 5, Island Row, Limehouse.
1901 Census records Thomas aged 8, living with his parents, sister Eleanor (13), brothers Henry (5) and William (4 months) (1901-1901), at 17, Cross Road, Cheshunt, Herts.
1911 Census records Thomas aged 18, working as a Sawyer (Sawing Wood), living with his parents, brothers Henry (15), Harold (8) and John (4), in Railway Road, Waltham Cross, Herts.
Wartime Service
Thomas enlisted a Bishops Stortford, Herts, posted to the Grenadier Guards with the service number 21347. He landed in France on 16 August 1915. Seeing action on the Western front.
Thomas died on 17 October 1915, of wounds received in action, he is buried in the CWGC Vermelles British Cemetery in France.
“The 4th Battalion, Grenadier Guards was formed at Bovingdon Green Camp, near Marlow, in July 1915. Mobilized for war in August 1915, landing in France on 16 August 1915, and Cumming under the command of 4th Guards Brigade of the Guards Division”.
Additional Information
His mother Mary Beer received a dependents pension of initially 1/- a week from 5th December 1916, then increased to 5/- a week and his effects of £3-1s-4d, Pay Owing and a War Gratuity of £3.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
