William Beesley

William Beesley
William Beesley (left) and William Gregg
Born	5 October 1895 Gresley, Derbyshire
Died	23 September 1966 (aged 70) Abergavenny, Monmouthshire
Buried	St Paul's Cemetery, Coventry
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service / branch	British Army
Years of service	1914 - 1919
Rank	Sergeant
Unit	The Rifle Brigade King's Royal Rifle Corps Royal Artillery
Battles / wars	World War I Western Front World War II
Awards	Victoria Cross

William Beesley VC (5 October 1895 – 23 September 1966) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Life

Beesley was 22 years old, and a private in the 13th Battalion, The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own), British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 8 May 1918 at Bucquoy, France, when Private Beesley's platoon sergeant and all the section commanders were killed he took command. Single-handed he rushed a post, shot four of the enemy, took six prisoners and sent them back to his lines. He and a comrade then brought his Lewis gun into action, inflicting many casualties and holding their position for four hours until the second private was wounded. Private Beesley, by himself, maintained his position until nightfall, when he returned to the original line with the wounded man and the Lewis gun which he kept in action until things had quietened down.

He later achieved the rank of sergeant.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum in Winchester, England.

References

• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
• VCs of the First World War - Spring Offensive 1918 (Gerald Gliddon, 1997)

External links

• Location of grave and VC medal (Warwickshire)