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Pte. Arthur Leonard Beedham
British Army 1st Btn. Worcestershire Regiment
from:Westwoodside
(d.27th May 1918)
Len Beedham, could have missed the war and lived a life. He was a farm hand at a farm near were he lived at a small village in the Isle of Axholme of Westwoodside. But he enlisted in the army at Retford & did his training at Cannock then moved to Ashford, Kent were he was stationed till sent to France in May 1918?.
Len, was a skinny 9 stone something, after his army training he had put a few pounds on and filled out and became a handsome young man. After his training at Cannock he went to Ashford in Kent, were he had the photo taken. He was on ten shillings a week he was doing some sort of extra duty that gave him a few bob more in his army pay. Len and thousands like him were not sent to France, Lloyd George kept the troops in the UK but when the German spring offensive 1918, took place he was sent to France.
Unfortunately for him he was sent to the 1st Battalion the Worcesters, who were reforming and resting after the attack by the Germans in April around the Somme area as reinforcements. As things turned out this area, under French military along the Chemin des Dames, was the next area attacked by the Germans the Worcesters were sent up the line in defence. When the Germans attacked on the 27th May the battalion was decimated. Len was one of many killed on this day reported as missing. He and many others who were sent to the Regiment as reinforcement never stood a chance, by Bruchmullers bombardment. They did not get to learn any thing of trench war. Talk about being thrown in at the deep end! He was in France a matter of days then dead. His brothers, sisters, mum and his dad only got to know he was killed reported missing near Riems the largest town near to the action. He is named on a memorial in Soissons.
Over the years my mums cousin, Ron Shipley, [great aunt Mabels lad] did extensive research and found out more which Len's parents, brothers and sisters never had any idea of. Its thanks to Ron that we have more on poor Len Beedham 42285 1st Worcesters. He received a soft victory medal for his endeavours, it was in my grandads [Lens youngest brother Alf] wardrobe for many a year, bent and a little battered, now gone! Grandad sat me on his kneed and told me all he knew about Len as told to him by his mum and sisters & brothers Mabel, Blanche & Horace.
