Douglas Beard Sgt D.C.M. awarded Sept 1916

Hi Everyone

Can I ask for some help again please. I am doing some research for a friend and have come across a problem. The above, Sgt. Douglas Beard was awarded the D.C.M. in Sept 1916. I believe when he joined up that he was living somewhere around Old Colwyn, although I believe he might have been born in Malvern in Worcs. I think he was in service in Old Colwyn, not with his parents. Think his number was 13573. I have a copy of his citation and medal awards and believe that he survived the war and did not die from his wounds after, although his name appears on a war memorial (strange). I think he may have married around 1930. What I am looking for is confirmation of his parents names. I can't find his enlistment into the RWF on line, which might well have confirmed his parents names and wonder if anyone might be able to access this information.

Thanks guys

Chris Haywood

No service or pension records found.

When Hywyn gets back from Vegas, he may be able to help.

John

His MIC shows him as Douglas H Beard.

Lars

Thank you Lars. I have found his MIC on Ancestry under Douglas H Beard, but there is no sign of his enrolement papers.
Chris

Ok, thank you

His middle name was Henry, and I believe his parents were Harry and Alice.

Hi Richard
Where did you get this info from? I have found Harry & Alice in 1901 with a son Douglas H on Ancestry, but I just wanted to cross-check the info with something military, to see if they were one and the same person. Hopefully they are ....

I can't help with your specific request re confirming his parents.

Your use of ' I believe' and 'I think' in your opener suggests caution in trying to fit what your friend tells you with what you can find from research. To that end then what may help you is the fact that the only Douglas Beard in RWF who got a DCM was 13573 Douglas Henry Beard. He appears on a RWF wounded list in Aug 1916 and is shown as from Colwyn Bay. He would have enlisted around first week Sept 1914.

According to the medal rolls his overseas service with RWF was entirely with 9th Bn. If he is a family member then I suggest that your friend downloads the 9th Bn War Diary (about 3 quid) where they can follow his war to a certain degree

http://discovery.nationalarchives.go...s?uri=C7353063

He is mentioned on 13th August 1916 as being a recipient of an award (i.e the DCM) inspected by the King at 5th Corps HQ.

I can't find anything on the Welsh papers sites but they are a bit of a bind in their search capabilities. I'd have though getting the DCM and being inspected by the King would have had a mention.

It's interesting you say the name is on a war memorial. Which one? Some memorials e.g Chapel/Church ones etc also have a list of 'those who served'

The 1911 census shows a Douglas Henry Beard in service at Colwyn. Also, there are private membertrees with photos of a Douglas Henry Beard born in 1895. Should be the same person.

Lars

As you see below, the man in Colwyn is born in Worcestershire, as is the son of Harry and Alice.

Name: Douglas Henry Beard
Age in 1911: 15
Estimated birth year: abt 1896
Relation to Head: Servant
Gender: Male
Birth Place: Malvern, Worcestershire, England
Civil Parish: Eirias
County/Island: Caernarvonshire
Country: Wales
Street address: Tanycoed Old Colwyn
Marital Status: Single
Occupation: Pale-Boy (Domestic)
Registration district: Conway
Registration District Number: 632
Sub-registration district: Colwyn Bay
ED, institution, or vessel: 01
Household schedule number: 47
Piece: 34545
Household Members:
Name Age
Henry Elias Mocatta 49
Anne Williams 18
George Britnell 27
Douglas Henry Beard 15
Humphrey James Butler 13
John Livingstone Barnicot 13
Courad Hugh Johnston 14
John Reginald Grogan 12
Henry George Crowe 13
Herbert Lord 9
Arthur Hammond Newey 11
Katharine Anne Mocatta 46
John Roberts Booth 10
William Edward Mocatta 20
Edith Mary Mocatta 16
Ethel Pears Donisthorpe 30
Beatrice Hannah Ambert 30
Elizabeth Lewis 38
Dinah Evans 22
Jane Elizabeth Edwards 25
John Kursey Asimont 11
Edward Walter Charles Batler 10
Felix John Battersby 10
Philip Townshend Hutchings 10
Kenelm Jocelyn Townshend Hatchings 8
Percy Gerald Gilbert 11
Edward Litler Lome 10
George Cecil Lome 9
Kildare Henry Borrowes 11
Jose Silvana Feviera Amaral 11
Antouis Arthur Silvira Ferieca Amaral 9

Thank you for the info. The person I am helping out is looking to "put flesh on the bones" of local soldiers who served in WW1, so that they don't end up just as names. An admirable venture. They belong to a church in Rhos on Sea and will be putting on an exhibition of WW1 service personnel later this year. I am convinced now that I have the correct individual. Yes, you might well be correct that their memorial is to those who served, not just those who lost their lives. Thanks again to everyone for taking the time and trouble to help me out. Much appreciated. Chris

I have a few local sources that may confirm/open up any 'unknowns' on the memoril/roll of service should you want to PM me the details any time.

Thank you. I will bear that in mind if I have any further ones to do

Thank you Lars. Yes, I contacted one of the private member tree holders to see if I could get a photo of Douglas from them. They haven't bothered to reply to me !!! It seems that the people I am helping out have taken their soldiers names from a list compiled by the vicar of Rhos on Sea, some time ago (don't know when). It would have been nice to have had a photo of him to put on display, but there we go. It's great to know I have this extra source of help from you guys, should I need it. Thanks again.