Joseph Henry Beal
Ypres Reservoir Cemetery: P. Priano
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Joseph Henry Beal, one of 4 children, of whom only 3 survived, was the only son of Henry Beal and Margaret Ann Sedgwick. Henry Beal was born 1862 in York, Yorkshire, the son of George and Frances Beal, he was brought to Darlington, County Durham, as a child. met local girl Margaret Ann Sedgwick born 1860, whom he married in the district of Darlington in 1884. Their daughter Ethel Ann was born the following year, Henry Jnr, May 5th 1888 and Eva in 1893. In 1901 Ethel Ann (16), was employed as a domestic servant at Wood Head, Great Smeaton, Yorkshire, in the home of farmer George Fishburn, his wife and children. The remainder of the family were living at 11, Risedale Terrace, Darlington and had transferred to 13, Model Place by 1911. Henry supported his family employed as a house painter, however, in the census of 1911 he is listed as a patient at Darlington Hospital & Dispensary, Eva (18) worked at a confectioners as a sweet maker, he and his wife had also adopted a little girl Hannah May Hodgson born 1908,
Joseph Henry Beal was married October 6th 1908 at St. Hilda’s Church, Darlington, to Faith Jefferson born March 15th 1888 at 9, Elvins Yard, Northgate, Darlington, with whom he had 3 children, Gladys May, March 29th 1909, Faith, August 23rd 1910 at 12, Model Place and Joseph Henry Jnr, November 16th 1914 at 22 Model Place.
Having left his employment as a labourer Joseph Henry enlisted for General Service (Infantry), August 18th 1914, assigned to the Durham Light Infantry as Private 12739. He was posted to the 10th Battalion joining them at Woking where they began training without uniforms or equipment and he had risen to the rank of unpaid Corporal by December 1st 1914.
Acting Corporal Beal, presumably on compassionate leave, was present at the death of his wife Faith Beal nee Jefferson, January 13th 1915, who died of acute nephritis (inflammation of the kidneys) at 22, Model Place, Darlington, aged only 26 years of age. Their 3 children aged 6, 5 and 1, in his absence were cared for by his mother-in-law. He returned to his regiment which having received khaki uniforms and modern rifles, February 1915, moved to barracks at Aldershot for final training, departing with the British Expeditionary Force, May 21st 1915, attached to the 43rd Brigade, 14th (Light) Division. They disembarked at Boulogne, France and still unprepared, were sent to Belgium into the trenches of the salient just south of Ypres participating at the attack at Bellewaarde, May 24th-25th a phase of the 2nd Battle of Ypres, which raged from April 22nd-May 25th 1915. Joseph Henry was promoted to the rank of Corporal, August 1st 1915, his regiment remained on the Ypres salient until being transferred to the Somme in 1916.
Corporal 12739 Joseph Henry Beal Durham Light Infantry was killed in action, September 4th 1915, his body buried at Ypres in what was then known as Prison Cemetery No.2, later his remains along with those of 106 others were exhumed and brought into Ypres Reservoir Cemetery created close by. He is at rest grave XI. E. 25. and was 27 years of age.
His mother-in-law Sara Ann Jefferson wrote a letter, January 5th 1916, it reads as follows including spelling and grammatical errors, “Dear Sir, I write to thank you for the belonging of Coppl J. Beal 12739 10th Bn DLI received on the 1st January 1916 could you give me any advice if he has any money due to him and where I should claim ..illegible…for it as I have is three little orphans children to look after, Your Truly, Mrs S A Jefferson 22 Model Place Darlington.” Joseph Henry had written a will in which he left all his effects to his mother-in-law Sara Ann. She received all monies due to him, his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal and was awarded by the Army a pension of 15 shilling a week for the upkeep of her grandchildren as of March 13th 1916. In 1939 she was widowed, living at 57, ..illegible with John and Annie McCormick as her grandchildren were all married, she died in approximately 1943.
Joseph Henry’s parents, Henry Beal and Margaret Ann Beal nee Sedgwick died in 1938 and 1836 respectively both aged 76 years and registered in the district of Darlington.
Gladys May Beal married in 1934 to steel worker Frederick Forster born December 12th 1908, in 1939 they were living with their daughter Marjorie at 18, Wales Street, Darlington. Gladys May Forster nee Beal died aged 88 years in 1997.
Faith Beal married in 1936 to James Wardrop. In 1939 she was living alone at 153, North Road, Darlington. Faith Wardrop nee Beal of 14, St Andrew’s Street Darlington, died November 3rd 1977 aged 67 years.
Joseph Henry Beal Jnr married in 1936 to Isabella MacInnes born 28th August 1914, in 1939 employed as a fitter (tool room) he and his wife were living at 7, Shinfield Road, Darlington. He died aged in 1991 aged 76 years.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In peace.
Joseph Henry Beal is remembered at Darlington on D40.034 and D40.067 and as Joseph Beale on D40.50
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance