Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas Beadman, a grocer’s warehouseman, born 1868 in Ravenstone, Leicestershire and his wife Augusta Amy Harding Beadman (nee Densham, married in the 4th quarter of 1893 in the Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire district), born 1868 in Coleford, Somerset. Cecil Thomas was employed as an apprentice engineering draughtsman and was born in the 4th quarter of 1894 in East Grinstead, Sussex, his siblings were Roy George Henry, a schoolboy, born in the 3rd quarter of 1898 and Marguerite, a schoolgirl, born 1902, both siblings were born in Godalming, Surrey, in April 1911 the family home was at 111, Forest Road, Hugglescote, Leicestershire. His brother Roy also died. In the early years of the twentieth century the family moved to north west Leicestershire, where Thomas worked for the Coalville Co-operative Society, the family worshipped at St. John the Baptist Church, the minister of the time being Canon Henry Broughton, both Cecil and his brother Roy were educated at the Church School. Cecil was regarded as a pleasant, clever and serious minded lad, who was always very attentive to detail. He studied at evening classes and passed the Board of Education Examinations in Drawing. Due to his exceptional ability and efforts, Cecil was employed as a draughtsman in the drawing office of Wootton Brothers, an internationally known iron works company. The Beadman family was settled, happy, and liked and respected within the community – until the candle of life began to flicker disconcertingly, when Mrs Beadman died suddenly in July 1914. At the outbreak of hostilities Cecil enlisted in the 5th Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment, and after training embarked for France, he was well liked in the Battalion and promotion was in prospect when on the night of the 14th and 15th May 1915 he was in a large party of men digging a much needed new trench at Zillebeke, the Germans could hear the sound of the digging, and randomely raked the area with machine gun fire, and it was during one of these bursts of fire that Cecil was hit and died instantly. Lieutenant Aubrey Moore in a letter dated the 21st May to Mr Beadman wrote:- “I can assure you that your son died instantly. He was most popular both with officers and men and we feel his loss most bitterly. I can testify that he was a true soldier and man. I could always rely on him to do anything, no matter how difficult, and he feared nothing. He laid down his life for his country and he died like a soldier and a man. Again I offer my deepest sympathy and that of other officers.” His younger brother Roy also died. His father Thomas having lost his wife and both sons in less than three years decided to leave the district and moved to Penge in south London in an attempt to rebuild his life.
Cecil attested into the Territorial Force to serve (4 years Embodied Service in the United Kingdom) or Abroad on the 15th September 1914 in Coalville, Leicestershire. He gave his place of birth as East Grinstead, Sussex, his age as 19 years and 10 months and his trade or calling as draughtsman. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his father, Thomas Beadman, his brother Roy Beadman and his siter Marguerite Beadman all of 111, Forest Road, Hugglescote and his cousin, Lovell Harris of Frome Road, Trowbridge as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 9 inches in height, weighed 138 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 32½ and 35 inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was brown and he had blue eyes. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for the Territorial Force on the 17th September 1914 in Coalville. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 2566 on the 17/9/14. Posted to the 5th Reserve Battalion Leicestershire Regiment and Embodied Service commenced on the 17/9/14. Killed in action on the 19/5/15. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 17/9/14 – 27/2/15, 164 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 28/2/15 – 19/5/15, 81 days. Total service 245 days. Cecil was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British and Victory medals. The following information was provided by Cecil’s sister B. Beadman on the (No date given), and was witnessed and signed by (No signatory) on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, T. Beadman of The Co-operative Society, King Street, Maidenhead. Mother of soldier, none. Full blood sister of soldier, B. Beadman of 70, Ashburnham Road, Luton, Beds. Cecil’s service file contains a number of damaged and barely legible lletters relating to his personal property, this one dated July 4th 1915 from his father at 111, Forest Road, Hugglescote, records the following: Dear Sir, Re Private C. T. Beadman, No. 2566, 1/5th Battalion Leicester Regiment. Killed in action May 19th 1915. After communicating with war office am informed all my sons personal effects would be sent to record office Lichfield and now make application to you for same to be sent to above address, watch and chain, several war trophies, collection of post cards and stamps all letters etc., together with all money -?- to him, am given to understand that same have been despatched from base in France and shall thank you for early attention to same. I remain. Yours Faithfully T. Beadman. This letter was addressed to the Officer in Charge, Territorial Records Office, Lichfield. A further letter dated 23rd October 1915 from Cecil’s father at 111, Forest Road, Hugglescote, Nr. Leicester records the following: Gentlemen, Re Private C. T. Beadman deceased, killed May 19th 1915, No. 2566, D Company 1/5th Battalion Leicester Regiment, 4th application made by me his father for deceased’s personal effects, which was informed had been duly sent from Base in France and having received money due to him from -?-, may I ask when you intend -?- his personal effects -?- -?- -?- -?-?- -?- -?- -?--?- -?- -?- -?- to any of my previous applications or must appeal to his Grace the Duke of Rutland, or publish in Press the treatment meted out to Parents who have willingly and nobly given -?- their -?- for the honour of their country -?- -?- in this district killed -?- -?- as September who have -?- -?- received their sons personal effects and surely 6 months -?- NOTE: No further writing is legible. Cecil’s surviving service documents are in a very poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 14 May-15 – LOCRE. 4.00pm “A” Company arrived back in hutments. 6.40pm Battalion (less “A” Company) paraded and proceeded with 400 of 7th and 8th NOTTINGHAMSHIRE & DERBY REGIMENT by motor bus to KRUISSTRAAT. Arrived at 9.40pm. The 4th GORDON REGIMENT provided guides who led our working parties to a position running South East from ZILLEBEKE to the Railway. Digging ceased at 1.00am (15/5/15) and Companies marched back to the point where the railway crosses the VLAMERTINGHE – YPRES road. Here the buses were re-entered at 4.00am. Back in hutments 5.30am. NOTE: Very little digging could be attempted as the parties only arrived on the ground a short time before it was time to return. This was due to (1) the buses arriving over an hour late at their destination. (2) the amount of unknown ground to be traversed on foot. The duration of a May night seemed hardly adequate for successful operations of this kind.
On Saturday June 5th 1915 The Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury published the following article under the heading. “THE WAR.” – Coalville Territorial Killed. – Mr. Thomas Beadman, a warehouse employee of the Coalville Co-operative Society, and living in Forest Road, Hugglescote, has received an intimation that his son, Private Cecil Beadman, of the 5th Leicestershire Territorials, has been killed whilst serving in the trenches. Private Beadman who was about 30 years of age, joined the Territorials soon after the war broke out, and did the first part of his training at Coalville. He was one of a party of 50 selected from about 100 to join the 5th Battalion, then stationed at Luton, and the first draft from Coalville district to join the battalion. His mother died a few weeks before he enlisted. He was employed at Messrs. Wootton Bros., Foundry at Coalville.
On Friday June 25th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “THE ROLL OF HONOUR.” The following casualties in the 4th and 5th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment are reported from General Headquarters and the Base:- OFFICER WOUNDED. 4th Battalion. Dyer-Bennet, Capt. and Adjutant R.S. KILLED. 4th Battalion. Baker, 2533, Lance-Corpl. T. G. 5th Battalion. Beadman, 2566, Private C.T. Clarke, 1956. Private D. Keeling, 3038, Private T.G. WOUNDED. 4th Battalion. Jones, 2593, Lance-Corporal G.J. Shipman, 1280, Lance-Corporal W. Walker, 2346, Private H. 5th Battalion. Dakin, 2173, Private E. Lord, 1474, Private S.D. Minckley, 1776, Lance-Corporal G.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday May 28th, 1915.

Hugglescote Territorial Killed

A letter dated May 21st, written by Lieut. A. G. Moore, of the 5th Leicestershire Territorial Regiment, was received on Monday by Mr Thomas Beadman, an employee of the Coalville Co-Operative Society, residing in Forest Road, Hugglescote, stating that his son, Pte. Cecil Thomas Beadman was killed in action on May 19th. The letter proceeds: “He was most popular both with the officers and men of his company and we all feel his loss bitterly. I can testify to him being a true soldier and a man. I could rely upon him to do anything, no matter how hard or difficult, and he feared nothing. You will have this to comfort you. He laid down his life for his country and died like a soldier and a man. Again offering you my deepest sympathy and that of all his company officers.”

Pte. Cecil Beadman was a draughtsman in the drawing office at Messrs. Wootton Bros’ works and was one of the first fifty Territorials to leave Coalville. He was a friend of Pte. S. Boot, killed a few weeks ago. Beadman was a nice lad, always attentive to his work and very studious. His anxiety to get on was shown by the fact that for some years he had most regularly attended the Coalville evening classes and had passed several Board of Education examinations in drawing.

Much sympathy is felt for Mr Beadman, his father, whose wife also died only last July.

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Coalville Times article - Friday June 4th, 1915

The late Pte. C. T. Beadman. – At the morning service at Hugglescote Parish Church on Sunday, Canon Broughton in the course of his sermon made touching reference to the death of Pte. Cecil T. Beadman, a Hugglescote member of the Leicestershire Territorials, recently killed in action. Beadman, who was a former member of the choir, had, the preacher said, lived a good life, one worthy of being followed, and now he had died a glorious death in the service of his King and country. Suitable hymns were sung and the organist (Miss Wells) at the close of the service played the Dead March, the congregation standing meanwhile.

Coalville Times article – Friday April 2nd, 1920

WAR MEMORIAL AT HUGGLESCOTE CHURCH

UNVEILED BY COL. R. E. MARTIN

A tablet which has been placed in Hugglescote Parish Church, to the memory of men from the parish who fell in the war, was unveiled by Lt.-Colonel R. E. Martin, C.M.G., on Saturday afternoon in the presence of a large congregation.

The tablet is of excellent design, in keeping with the handsome edifice, and is of a permanent character, the names of 101 men being inscribed on Swithland slate, set in a frame of Ketton stone, surmounted by a cross and crown encircled in a carved laurel wreath, with similar carvings on either side. The inscription runs as follows:

“Their name liveth for evermore.”

“To the Glory of God, and in imperishable memory of the men of the parish who fell in the great war, 1914 – 1918.”

The names of the men inscribed on the tablet are as follows:-

H. A. Attwood, C. T. Beadman, J. Brooks, W. Baker, J. E. Briggs, H. G. Blackham, J. T. Bishop, J. Barrs, G. Barrs, R. Beadman, E. Bonser, G. Beale, J. G. Bennett, E. S. Boot, W. Berrisford, F. J. Betteridge, F. P. Benistone, J. W. Cawley, F. Chamberlain, J. A. Crookes, R. A. Cross, L. Cross, J. Cox, P. Cliff, J. W. F. Collier, C. Drewett, H. B. Drewett, S. Dodds, A. Elkin, H. C. Elkin, J. Farn, H. Fletcher, H. Finch, L. Finch, G. Firban, G. Gadsby, A. Gamble, S. F. Gamble, W. Gray, W. O. Hoden, O. Hallam, B. Hatter, J. Haywood, W. Hill, F. Hill, J. E. Hibbert, G. Hart, G. H. Highfield, E. Harper, J. W. Harper, H. Hall, J. E. Holmes, J. Jones, W. Jones, F. J. Kirby, I. V. Kelham, H. Lewis, W. Lewis, W. Massey, H. O. Moseley, T. Marriott, G. Martin, J. A. Moult, J. Maunders, J. Moon, I. Mycroft, W. Newbold, O. H. Pratt, J. A. Pegg, F. Pink, E. H. Palmer, W. Riley, A. T. Richardson, W. Rogers, C. Simmons, E. A. Stinchcombe, J. Summers, S. Summers, C. Shilton, G. Slatter, J. Smith, J. C. Shaw, S. Smith, G. Spencer, S. C. Smith, J. W. Setchell, W. Statham, A. G. Tovell, S. T. Timson, J. Tebbatt, F. Whitmore, E. Willett, B. Walker, H. Watson, C. H. Walker, J. Woods, T. Willett, A. Wright, A. Wood, J. Young and W. Young.

As the congregation passed into the church, members of the Hugglescote Church Lads’ Brigade, with the ex-Sergt.-Major W. Hill in charge, lined up on either side of the entrance and two of the Brigade with bowed heads and leaning on reversed rifles, stood by the memorial, covered with the Union Jack.

The service, which was very impressive, was conducted by the Rev. Canon Broughton (vicar) and opened with the hymn, “Stand up for Jesus.” Then followed prayers and collects. Psalm 130, and a lesson read by the Rev. J. C. Wallace, after which the clergy and choir proceeded to the memorial, led by the churchwardens, Messrs. W. E. Canner and J. W. Fletcher.

In unveiling the tablet, Colonel Martin said “To the glory of God and in imperishable memory of the men of this parish who fell in the great war 1914 – 1918, I unveil this tablet, which has been erected by their fellow parishioners in grateful recognition of their self-sacrifice.”

The “Last Post” having been sounded by buglers of the Church Lads’ Brigade, the choir and clergy returned to their places and Colonel Martin gave an address from the chancel steps.

He spoke of the memorable days in August 1914, when the principles on which our national life is based were being assailed, and it was the part of every true man to stand in defence of them. They had tangible proof that the spirit which was then evoked in the nation was the same spirit as that shown by their forefathers who went out to fight country’s enemies. He would never forget the day about the end of August, 1914, when the North Midland Territorial Division, which had been mobilised about three weeks, was told to fill up its ranks for service abroad. It fell to him, among others, to come back into Leicestershire to try and explain to the people what they were up against, and he remembered what a splendid response they gave. In the North Midland Division, between 80 and 90 per cent of the men said they were prepared to go anywhere, though many of them were married men who had never experienced Army service before. Many things have happened since – much self-seeking, a desire to get rich quickly, many apparent inequalities of justice and self-sacrifice – but he was sure they could all take comfort from the fact that there was tangible proof given in those days that the nation was sound at heart and could be trusted to do the right thing when the crisis really arose. And what happened when the armies got overseas and began their real work? He ventured to say that no one had the privilege of serving in a better battalion. The men from that district – Coalville men they always called them – were a splendid lot of men filled with genuine enthusiasm for fitting themselves for the part which they had to play, and who on getting across the water, proved themselves as good as the best. He went on to speak of evidences of practical Christianity displayed by the men, and of deeds of heroism which came to his notice. One instance he recalled was when they were between Hill 60 and Ypres. When the Brigadier realised that he had in the ranks men accustomed to mining, he formed a number of Coalville men into a mining section, whose duty it was to construct projecting galleries in front of the trenches, to find out if the Germans were under-mining. One day a member of the party came across a German mine filled with German explosives in large quantities, and it would have been a very natural thing for him to want to get away from it as soon as possible, but instead of that, he crawled over the top and disconnected the mine and came back and reported it to his commanding officer. This man, whose name was Starbuck, had no thought for his own safety, but first took steps to safeguard his comrades.

Proceeding, Col. Martin said his services came to an end in October, 1915, but he had always felt ever since then that the war had been worth while, if for nothing else than for the fine spirit it brought out, and if the same spirit could be shown in regard to present day problems, it would go a long way towards reaching a solution. He was not one of those who said this country ought to have stood aside and have taken advantage of the trade while other countries were fighting. The people, who said that, he thought, were wrong. He thought that what the people of this country did when they found what they were up against should be an example and pattern to them now. If the war had done nothing else, with all the misery, self-sacrifice and sorrow, he believed they were worth while because they afforded the opportunity which was taken by so many of showing a truly Christian spirit. He believed that experience had not been lost, but would help them to get through present day difficulties with credit to themselves.

The closing hymn was 11, “For all the saints,” and a collection was taken for St. Dunstan’s Hostel for Blind Soldiers and Sailors. As the congregation were leaving the church, Mr F. Baxter (organist) played, “O, rest in the Lord.” Before and after the service, peals were rung with the bells half-muffled.

Submitted by A. Murby 2/9/2017