GEORGE BEECROFT
Image from 1915 Suffolk Chronicle & Mercury newspaper
Born: 2nd January 1897, Chiswick, London.
Died: 18th February 1915; age 18; Killed by a sniper whilst trying to get water for a wounded comrade in the Battle of Ypres.
Enlistment Location: Ipswich; 21st July 1914.
Date of Entry Therein: 16th January 1915 – France.
Rank: Private; Service Number: 8998.
Regiment: Suffolk Regiment, 1st Battalion.
Medals Awarded: Victory, British War & 1915 Star.
Grave Reference:
I.A.15.
West-Vlaanderen,
Belgium.
Relatives Notified & Address: Son of Mr W.R. Beecroft, of 55, Rope Walk, Ipswich.
CENSUS
1901 District Western Hospital, Fulham, London.
George was 4 years old, and a Patient at the hospital. His family were living at 165, Stephendale Road, Fulham, London.
1911 22, Bond Street, Ipswich.
George was 14 years old, and assisting his father in business. He was living with his parents & brothers.
William Ricahrd Beecroft, 46, a Firewood Dealer, born Hastings, East Sussex.
Ellen Eliza Beecroft (nee Cracknell), 39, born Bradfield, Essex.
Arthur Thomas Beecroft, 16, assisting father in business, born Hammersmith, London.
William Richard Beecroft, 12, born Chiswick, London.
Frederick Beecroft, 10, born Fulham, London.
Edward Beecroft, 7, born St. Helen’s, Ipswich.
Alfred Beecroft, 2, born St. Helen’s, Ipswich.
George attended Clifford Road School, Ipswich.
Soldiers’ Effects to William R. Beecroft – father.
George is remembered on St. Michael’s Church War Memorial Ipswich.
AN IPSWICH MILITARY FAMILY
Above we give the portraits of Prvt. W.R. Beecroft and his wife, together with their four sons who are all of them in the Army, and of whom one was killed in action before Ypres on February 10th last. Before joining the 8th Suffolks, Prvt. W.R. Beecroft carried on the business of a coke and firewood dealer at 25, Rope Walk, Ipswich, when he was assisted by his sons. He joined the Army in August of last year, and has been at the front four times. The names and regiments of his sons are:-
- Sadler H. Beecroft, who has served six years in the R.F.A. He was nine months in France, and was then invalided home, wounded. Has now recovered and expects shortly to go out again.
- Bombr. A. Beecroft has been three years in the R.F.A., and is now in France with the British Expeditionary Force.
- George Beecroft, of the 1st Suffolks, who was killed in action.
- Trumpeter W.R. Beecroft, the youngest son, in the R.F.A. He joined since the outbreak-of-war, and is now at Woolwich.
THE SUFFOLK REGIMENT 1st Battalion:
Suffolk Regiment Battalion movements
SUFFOLK REGIMENT MUSEUM
Friends of The Suffolk Regiment
2 Comments
Seth Garrard is George’s great great great nephew. As part of a school trip he placed a memorial cross on George’s grave on 3rd February 2023. Seth’s great grandfather – George Beecroft – was named after his uncle.
Hi Linda ,
my Nephew Richard Beecroft and his wife Margaret have passed your message ref Seth Garrard onto me i am very interested in this as George was my dad Alfred Beecroft brother can i ask were you fit into the Beecroft family tree i have visited Georges grave at Birr Crossroads
l look forward to your reply
Terry Beecroft