Walter Henry Beech (1900 - 1945)

Born 17 Jun 1900 in Edmonton, Middlesex, England

Ancestors

Died 16 Apr 1945 at age 44 in Naval Hospital, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

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Biography

Walter Beech served in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in World War I
Service started: 28 Dec 1915
Unit(s): 125th Battalion
Service ended:

Walter Beech served in the Royal Canadian Navy in World War II
Service started: 1941
Unit(s): HMCS Esquimalt
Service ended: 16 Apr 1945

Walter Beech Died in Military Service during World War II.

Walter Henry Beech was born in 1900 at Edmonton, Middlesex, England. He was the son of William Beech and Edith Wilson.^[1]

In the 1901 census, Walter H Beech was age 0 living at Langhedge Lane Langhedge Terrace, Edmonton, Middlesex with his father William G Beech (24), mother Edith Beech (24), siblings Frederick W Beech (6), Walter H Beech (2).^[2]

Walter's family (father William, mother Edith and their seven children) emigrated to the United States in 1907. They departed from Southampton on 26 Jun 1907 on the "Majestic" and arrived in New York on 4 Jul 1907.^[3][4]

In the 1910 United States Census, Walter H Beech was age 9 living at W Newton Ward 1, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, United States with his father William Beech (33), mother Edith Beech (33), siblings Frederick W Beech (15), William G Beech (12), Edith R Beech (8), Rose E H Beech (6), Florence H Beech (5), Lily M Beech (3).^[5]

Walter's family (father William, Edith and their seven children) emigrated to Brantford, Brant, Ontario, Canada in 1911.

Walter Beech served with the 125th Battalion 2nd Canadian Expeditionary Force (regimental number 772513) during World War I. He joined the army on 28 Dec 1915 when he was only 15 (although he gave his age as 18) and after basic training in Toronto was transported to France.^[6][7]

In the 1921 Canada Census, Walter Beech was age 20 living at Brantford, Brant, Ontario, Canada with his father William Beech (45), siblings William Beech jr (22), Rose Beech (18), Florence Beech (14), Lilian Beech (13), John Beech (9), Evelyn Beech (4). Occupation Machine Hand, Machine Shop.^[8]

Walter Henry Beech and Annie Dawson married on 31 Aug 1923 at Brantford, Brant, Ontario, Canada.^[9] They had at least three children, but two died as infants.

Walter served in the Canadian Navy for four years during World War II. He served on HMCS Esquimalt which was sunk on 16 Apr 1945. He died at the Naval Hospital, Halifax, Nova Scotia after suffering a Heart Attack while convalescing from an operation. He was buried at Prospect Cemetery, Toronto.^{[7][10][11][12]}

Sources

1. ↑ General Register Office. https://www.gro.gov.uk. Birth Registration. BEECH, WALTER HENRY; Mother's Maiden Surname: WILSON; GRO Reference: 1900 S Quarter in EDMONTON Volume 03A Page 519
2. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1901," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X96K-QMP : 20 May 2019), Walter H Beech in household of William G Beech, Edmonton, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom; from "1901 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing Edmonton subdistrict, PRO RG 13, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
3. ↑ UK, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960. Ancestry.com
4. ↑ "New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JXVZ-5MR : 2 March 2021), Walter Henry Beech, 1907.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MGCL-LR2 : accessed 4 June 2021), Walter H Beech in household of William C Beech, W Newton Ward 1, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 214, sheet 6B, family 126, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1432; FHL microfilm 1,375,445.
6. ↑ Library and Archives Canada. Personnel Records of the First World War. https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/personnel-records/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=34045

   Name: BEECH, WALTER; Regimental Number: 772513; Date of Birth: 1900-06-17; Place of Birth: Tottenham England; Enlistment Date: 1915-12-28; Place of Enlistment: Brantford ON Canada; Unit: 125th Overseas Battalion; Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 530 - 20; Item Number: 34045

7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} GWCA. We Remember. Walter Henry Beech. http://doingourbit.ca/profile/walter-beech
8. ↑ Library and Archives Canada. 1921 Census of Canada. Item Walter Beech. https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census/1921/Pages/item.aspx?itemid=1373210
9. ↑ "Ontario Marriages, 1869-1927," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKM5-6QDG : 8 March 2021), Walter Henry Brech and Annie Dawson, 31 Aug 1923; citing registration , Brantford, Brant, Ontario, Canada, Archives of Ontario, Toronto; FHL microfilm 2,266,888.
10. ↑ "Nova Scotia Deaths, 1890-1955," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK99-R261 : 8 March 2021), Walter Henry Beech, 16 Apr 1945; citing Halifax, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, certificate 325, Nova Scotia Archives, Halifax.
11. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #80542698
12. ↑ Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Chief Engine Room Artificer WALTER HENRY BEECH. https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2265788/WALTER%20HENRY%20BEECH/

• FamilySearch family tree. Walter Henry Beech. https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LTX1-8TJ