WALTER WILLIAM BEARD
Walter William Beard was born in 1885 in Amberley, the son of Walter Willliam Beard senior, an Umbrella Stick Manufacturer and his wife Ellen Maria (Clark).
By 1901 the family had moved to Rooksmoor and Walter was a stick worker. He married Flossie Eleanor Priscilla Flotman 8 August 1908 at Newnham and by 1911 he was living in the High Street with his wife and young daughter, Vera Ellen Mary. At this time, Walter's parents were living at The Cross, now Cross House, in the High Street. The young couple had another child, Walter William, born later in 1911 and a second son born in 1914.
Walter enlisted in the 73rd Field Company of the Royal Engineers and was sent to France on 10 July 1915. He was an acting Corporal when he was wounded at the Battle of Loos. He died of his wounds in Rouen General Hospital on 15 October 1915, aged 30 and was buried in St Sever Cemetery, Rouen.
He was reported to be the first Woodchester man to enlist and the first to fall in action. This depends on the interpretation of 'Woodchester man'. Others eg George Archer-Shee were already in the army at the outbreak of war and he was already missing presumed dead before 1915.
Medals 1914-15 Star, Victory and British War
Background
The Royal Engineers carried out a number of different roles for the army both in the battlefield and along the lines of communication. The various specialisms were organised into different types of units, none of which was bigger than a Company in size. These units were attached to Divisions, or to larger formations at Corps, Army or even GHQ. The main ones, of which there were many, were the Field Companies and the Signals Companies. As they were attached to the fighting portions of the Divisions, these Companies often saw action and took part in the fighting. The Divisions of the early part of the war also had on their strength two Fortress Companies and works units for bridging and lines of communication. Various other units of Royal Engineers were attached to Corps, Army and GHQ. In November 1914, the Royal Engineers was composed of almost 17,000 officers and 340,000 other ranks..
The Field Company RE
In 1914, each infantry Division included two Field Companies. A third was added during January 1915, as more units came up to strength and passed training.
A detachment of the Field Company (a proportion of the above) was left at the Base, as reinforcements.
The men were organised into two areas: Mounted (which included the CQMS, the Farrier, the Shoeing Smith, trumpeter, 3 NCOs and the drivers and batmen) and Dismounted. The latter represented many kinds of trades required by the army in the field, including in the numbers shown above 15 Blacksmiths, 20 Bricklayers, 40 Carpenters, 5 Clerks, 12 Masons, 6 Painters, 8 Plumbers, plus surveyors, draughtsmen, wheelwrights, engine drivers and others.
The Field Companies relied on horses for transport and had an establishment of 17 riding horses for the officers and NCOs of the Mounted Branch, plus 50 draught heavy horses, and 4 pack horses. There were also 5 spare draught horses as replacements.
With the exceptions of the Trumpeter and Bugler, all other ranks were armed as infantrymen, carrying the SMLE rifle.
By 1901 the family had moved to Rooksmoor and Walter was a stick worker. He married Flossie Eleanor Priscilla Flotman 8 August 1908 at Newnham and by 1911 he was living in the High Street with his wife and young daughter, Vera Ellen Mary. At this time, Walter's parents were living at The Cross, now Cross House, in the High Street. The young couple had another child, Walter William, born later in 1911 and a second son born in 1914.
Walter enlisted in the 73rd Field Company of the Royal Engineers and was sent to France on 10 July 1915. He was an acting Corporal when he was wounded at the Battle of Loos. He died of his wounds in Rouen General Hospital on 15 October 1915, aged 30 and was buried in St Sever Cemetery, Rouen.
He was reported to be the first Woodchester man to enlist and the first to fall in action. This depends on the interpretation of 'Woodchester man'. Others eg George Archer-Shee were already in the army at the outbreak of war and he was already missing presumed dead before 1915.
Medals 1914-15 Star, Victory and British War
Background
The Royal Engineers carried out a number of different roles for the army both in the battlefield and along the lines of communication. The various specialisms were organised into different types of units, none of which was bigger than a Company in size. These units were attached to Divisions, or to larger formations at Corps, Army or even GHQ. The main ones, of which there were many, were the Field Companies and the Signals Companies. As they were attached to the fighting portions of the Divisions, these Companies often saw action and took part in the fighting. The Divisions of the early part of the war also had on their strength two Fortress Companies and works units for bridging and lines of communication. Various other units of Royal Engineers were attached to Corps, Army and GHQ. In November 1914, the Royal Engineers was composed of almost 17,000 officers and 340,000 other ranks..
The Field Company RE
In 1914, each infantry Division included two Field Companies. A third was added during January 1915, as more units came up to strength and passed training.
A detachment of the Field Company (a proportion of the above) was left at the Base, as reinforcements.
The men were organised into two areas: Mounted (which included the CQMS, the Farrier, the Shoeing Smith, trumpeter, 3 NCOs and the drivers and batmen) and Dismounted. The latter represented many kinds of trades required by the army in the field, including in the numbers shown above 15 Blacksmiths, 20 Bricklayers, 40 Carpenters, 5 Clerks, 12 Masons, 6 Painters, 8 Plumbers, plus surveyors, draughtsmen, wheelwrights, engine drivers and others.
The Field Companies relied on horses for transport and had an establishment of 17 riding horses for the officers and NCOs of the Mounted Branch, plus 50 draught heavy horses, and 4 pack horses. There were also 5 spare draught horses as replacements.
With the exceptions of the Trumpeter and Bugler, all other ranks were armed as infantrymen, carrying the SMLE rifle.