Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Gunner W. Beeby, Royal Field Artillery, who was killed in action on the Western Front on 19 October 1917

British War and Victory Medals (715447 Gnr. W. Beeby. R.A.) in named card box of issue, in outer OHMS envelope, addressed to ‘Mrs. S. Beeby, Highland Drove, Gt. Salkeld, Penrith, Cumberland’; Memorial Plaque (Watson Beeby) in card envelope, with Buckingham Palace enclosure, extremely fine (3) £100-£140

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to Great War Casualties.

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Watson Beeby was born in Great Salkeld, Cumberland, and attested for the Royal Field Artillery at Penrith. He served with the 331st Brigade during the Great War on the Western Front, and was killed in action on 19 October 1917. A letter written to the recipient’s mother from Lieutenant Holdsworth states:
At the time of his death he was sitting in a dug-out writing when a shell came right through, killing him instantaneously, and he suffered no pain at all. We carried his body over nine miles behind the firing line and buried him in a beautiful spot. The bearers were Cumberland men.’

Beeby is buried in Brandhoek New Military Cemetery, Belgium.

Sold with copied research, including newspaper cuttings which contain a photograph of the recipient.