Ernest Frederick Beal

He captured four machine guns and carried a wounded man back

Ernest Frederick Beal VC was born in Brighton on 27 January 1883. Educated at Brighton Grammar School, he worked in his father's stationery business and became an officer in the local Boys' Brigade. He was engaged to May Bundy when his military service ended in 1918.

Beal enlisted in the Sussex Yeomanry in September 1914 and rose to sergeant. He served overseas in 1915, including Gallipoli, before subsequent service in Egypt and France. Recommended for a commission, he joined the Yorkshire Regiment as a second lieutenant in 1917 and served with its 13th Battalion.

At St Leger during the German Spring Offensive on 21 March 1918, his company discovered a dangerous gap between its flank and neighbouring troops. German machine guns occupied the gap. Beal gathered fewer than a dozen men and led them along the trench, personally attacking gun crews with his revolver. His party captured four machine guns.

Later that evening, he returned under fire to a wounded soldier left in the open and carried him to safety on his back. A shell killed Beal the following morning, 22 March. He was 35.

His body was not recovered, and he is commemorated on the Arras Memorial. His parents received his Victoria Cross at Buckingham Palace in July 1918. The 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal also formed part of his group. His family and fiancee later brought the medals together for the Green Howards Museum.

Official Victoria Cross citation

For most conspicuous bravery and determined leading when 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.

Twelfth Supplement to The London Gazette of 31 May 1918. 4 June 1918, Numb. 30726, p. 6572