b. 27/01/1891 South Stoneham, Southampton. d. 03/05/1967 Swindon, Wiltshire.
Daniel Marcus William Beak (1891-1967), who was commonly known as Marcus, was born on 27th January 1891 at 42 Kent Road, St Denys, South Stoneham, Southampton. His father, William Henry Beak, was originally from Gloucestershire, and was an assistant surveyor. He married Sarah Anne Mullins in 1872 in Tisbury, Wiltshire. He changed career soon afterwards, becoming a milk dairyman by 1901. He later became a road surveyor. Marcus had seven siblings.
Marcus was educated at St Denys School from 1897-1904 and Taunton’s School from 1904-10, both in Southampton. He became a pupil teacher at St Mary’s School, Southampton but felt that he was “not too good at it” and became a private secretary in Bristol. He enlisted as an ordinary seaman in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve at the Crystal Palace, London on 26th January (February in some sources) 1915. He joined the Benbow Battalion on 17th April and A Company, 1st Battalion on 27th April. He was drafted to the Crystal Palace on 30th April, and promoted to petty officer on 8th May, and was then commissioned as a sub lieutenant for duty in the Royal Naval Division. He transferred to the 1st Reserve on 22nd June. He served at Gallipoli with the Anson Battalion from 9th September and was attached to the Royal Marine Light Infantry on 26th September and to the Divisional Bombing School for instruction. He served in Gallipoli until the evacuation.
On 15th May 1916 he set sail from Mudros for Marseille, France for service on the Western Front. He was awarded the Military Cross for his actions on 13th/14th November 1916 at Beaucourt-sur-Ancre, France when he led an attack with great courage and initiative and materially assisted in the capture of the enemy line. Lieutenant Colonel Bernard Freyberg received the VC for his part in this action. On 14th December 1916, he was appointed adjutant to Drake Battalion. He was then made acting commander on 19th March 1917 to command Drake Battalion temporarily. He was finally promoted to lieutenant commander in April 1917.
He was awarded a Bar to his Military Cross for his actions at Gavrelle, France on 23rd/24th April 1917, in which he continually dashed forward to reorganise the men and led them with great bravery through the enemy barrage and machine gun fire. He was granted leave to England to attend his investiture. He attended the Senior Officers’ Course at Aldershot on 8th October and after a period of leave, rejoined the Battalion on 31st December.
Daniel W M Beak VC DSO MC*He attended the Senior Officers’ Course in Aldershot in late 1917 and on 31st December was promoted temporary commander, and appointed as commanding officer of the Howe Battalion.
Beak initially remained in command of the Howe Battalion, then briefly commanded the Anson Battalion in the first week of March 1918, and then transferred back to the Drake Battalion on 13th March 1918. He was Mentioned in Despatches on 20th May, and awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) LG 26th July 1918, “for actions during a night attack by the enemy. The right flank of his division was left in a dangerous position, after the attack. He arranged for a flank to be formed in that direction, and subsequently covered the retirement of two brigades with a composite rear-guard which he organised and commanded. His initiative and presence of mind greatly assisted in extricating these brigades from a very difficult situation. Throughout, the skilful handling of his battalion was particularly noticeable”.
He was sick for four days with the flu in July 1918, and was granted a period of home leave in August, returning on 10 August. During the period 21st – 25th August and on 4th September 1918 at Logeast Wood, France, Commander Beak led his men and captured four enemy positions under heavy fire enabling other battalions to reach their objectives. Four days later, although dazed by a shell fragment, in the absence of the brigade commander, he reorganised the whole brigade under extremely heavy gun fire and led his men to their objective. When an attack was held up, accompanied by only one runner he succeeded in breaking up a nest of machine-guns, personally bringing in nine or ten prisoners. His fearless example instilled courage and confidence in his men, who then quickly resumed the advance under his leadership.
On a subsequent occasion he displayed great courage and powers of leadership in attack, and his initiative, coupled with the confidence with which he inspired all ranks, not only enabled his own and a neighbouring unit to advance, but contributed very materially to the success of the Naval Division in these operations. He was presented with the VC by the King on 6th December 1918 at Valenciennes. It was the first time a naval VC was presented with a crimson ribbon. He received a second Mention in Despatches on 20th December 1918. With the war now over he was granted several periods of home leave, returned home permanently in May 1919, and was demobilised in June. He was given the Freedom of the County Borough of Southampton on 2nd April 1919.
In 1921, he was granted a regular army commission with the Royal Scots Fusiliers as a captain. Beak was in Ireland with his regiment during the Irish War of Independence. In the situation, following the collapse of the British civilian administration, his duties included membership of the Courts of Enquiry in lieu of Inquests. On 5th September 1923 he married Matilda Wallace in Ayr, Scotland. He and Matilda had two sons, though sadly she passed away in 1930 and is buried in Ayr Cemetery. He was given a brevet promotion to major in 1929, and substantive promotion in 1932, on transfer to the King’s Regiment. He was promoted brevet lieutenant-colonel in 1935. The substantive promotion followed in 1938, transferring again, this time to the South Lancashire Regiment.
During World War II Beak was commander of 12th Brigade, GOC Malta and 151st Infantry Brigade, which he led during Operation Pugilist. Montgomery dismissed him from this post after that battle and he never held another command. He had led an attack on the Mareth Line which was discovered to be a feint. The GOC was aware of this, but had not informed Marcus, who was furious. He was an acting brigadier by 2nd August 1940 when he was promoted to colonel. Colonel Beak was Mentioned in Despatches on 20th December 1940, for services between March and June of that year. He was promoted temporary major-general in January 1942.
He retired from the army on 19th February 1945, retaining the honorary rank of major-general. He served for many years as a county councillor for Lambourn, Berkshire, including being Chairman of the Finance Committee. He was also President of the Drake Battalion Society and Royal Naval Division Association. He attended a number of VC reunions, including the 1920 VC Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, the VC Dinner at the House of Lords in 1929, the VC Centenary Celebrations at Hyde Park in 1956 and the first VC Association Reunion at the Cafe Royal, London on 24th July 1958.
Daniel Beak died on the 3rd May 1967 in the Princess Margaret Hospital, Swindon, Wiltshire, following a long illness. According to family wishes, he was buried in an unmarked grave in Brookwood Cemetery, Woking, Surrey. He is commemorated with a memorial tablet to his wife at Ayr Cemetery, on a memorial plaque at Cheltenham War Memorial, and with a VC commemorative stone unveiled at Southampton Cenotaph on 6th December 2018.
His medal group consisting of Victoria Cross, DSO, MC & Bar, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal 1914-20, Victory Medal 1914-19 + MiD Oakleaf, 1939-45 Star, Africa Star + clasp “8th Army”, War Medal 1939-45 + MiD Oakleaf, King George V Silver Jubilee Medal 1935, King George VI Coronation Medal 1937, and Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal 1953, was bequeathed to one of his sons. They were held initially at the Royal Navy Museum on loan, but after the son’s death, his widow offered the medals for sale. They were sold at a Spink auction on 5th November 2003 for a then world record of £178,250 to Lord Ashcroft. They are currently in the Ashcroft Collection, being transferred to the National Army Museum in Chelsea.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: LORD ASHCROFT COLLECTION.
BURIAL LOCATION: BROOKWOOD CEMETERY, WOKING, SURREY.
UNMARKED GRAVE 222960
Acknowledgement:
Kevin Brazier – Cemetery Map