Ernest Frederick Beal VC

b. 27/01/1883 Brighton, Sussex. d. 22/03/1918 St Leger, France.

Ernest Frederick Beal (1883-1918) was born at 148 Lewes Road, Brighton, Sussex on 27th January 1883. His father was John James William Beal, who was a stationer’s assistant, who later became a bookseller and newsagent. He married Jane “Jennie” Stillman nee Downing on 20th January 1876 at St Mary’s Church, Marylebone, London. She was originally from Ipswich. Ernest had six siblings.

Ernest was educated at Brighton Grammar School and was an officer in the Brighton Boy’s Brigade. He was employed as a stationer’s assistant with his father. On 22nd September 1914 he enlisted in 2/1st Sussex Yeomanry, and was promoted to lance corporal, corporal and then sergeant by 11th June 1915. He then transferred to the 1/1st Sussex Yeomanry on 10th September and left Britain on 24th September 1915. From 7th October he served in Gallipoli and then Egypt before France. Ernest was commissioned in 3rd Yorkshire on 26th September 1917 and joined 13th Battalion in France in October.

Ernest F Beal VC

In early 1918, he became engaged to May Bundy, a stationer’s clerk, who lived at 37 Crescent Road, Brighton. Sadly, they would never get the opportunity to wed, as on the 21st-22nd March 1918 at St Leger, France, Ernest would be killed performing his VC action.

He was in command of a company detailed to occupy a certain section of trench. When the company was established, it was found that a considerable gap of about 400 yards existed between the left flank of the company and the neighbouring unit, and that this gap was strongly held by the enemy. It was of vital importance that the gap should be cleared, but no troops were then available. Organising a small party of less than a dozen men, he led them against the enemy. On reaching an enemy machine gun, 2nd Lt. Beal immediately sprang forward, and with his revolver killed the team and captured the gun. Continuing along the trench he encountered and dealt with another machine gun in the same manner, and in all captured four enemy guns, and inflicted severe casualties. Later in the evening, when a wounded man had been left in the open under heavy enemy fire, he, regardless of danger, walked up close to an enemy machine gun and brought in the wounded man on his back. 2nd Lt. Beal was killed by a shell on the following morning.

He died of his wounds and sadly his body was not recovered and he is commemorated on the Arras Memorial to the Missing. The VC was presented to his parents and fiancee by King George V in the quadrangle outside Buckingham Palace on 3rd July 1918. He is also commemorated with the Ernest Beal VC Watch awarded annually by the Brighton Hove & District Battalion of the Boy’s Brigade, the EF Beal VC Award presented annually by Brighton Grammar School, on the Brighton War Memorial, and also with a VC commemorative stone at Brighton War Memorial.

In addition to the VC he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal 1914-20 and Victory Medal 1914-19. The trio were issued to May Bundy. The VC passed to his brother Harold on the death of his father. The VC was presented on permanent loan to the Green Howards by Harold in 1964. May loaned the trio to the Green Howards to join the VC. In July 1973, Harold and May donated the VC group to the Regiment. The VC is held by the Green Howards Museum, Richmond, Yorkshire.

LOCATION OF MEDAL: GREEN HOWARDS MUSEUM, RICHMOND, YORKSHIRE.

BURIAL PLACE: NO KNOWN GRAVE – ON ARRAS MEMORIAL, FRANCE.

BAY 5