Private George Leslie “Les” Beeby
43768 South Staffordshire Regiment
Les Beeby (as he was known) was born at number 7, Stone Row (Jacksdale Street), Jacksdale in 1899, the son of William Beeby, an ironworker and Hannah (nee Eaglefield). He had brothers, William Harold (Bill), John Leonard and Joseph Henry.
Leslie enlisted in February 1918 at Nottingham aged 18 years, home address given as Sedgwick Street and trade given as ‘sawyer’. His service record describes him of fair complexion, with brown, nearly black, hair and blue eyes. Height 5 feet 5 inches. He first served with the North Staffordshires, then the Stafford Cyclist Regt and finally the South Staffordshires. He appears to have had three different service numbers but his army records are very faint and hard to decipher. His Medal Rolls Index Card indicates that one service number was 43768 and that he was awarded the Victory and the British War Medals. His other two service numbers were 51210 and 68097 with the N Staffs and Stafford Cyclist Regt respectively.
In 1945 Les married Dora Campbell, but they do not appear to have had any children.
Les was a partner in a funeral business known as ‘F. Meeks, Son and G.L. Beeby’ of ‘Railway House’, Ironville, Derbyshire (The ‘son’ was D. W. Meeks).
Les may have begun his working career as a ‘carter’, as a George Beeby is shown as such in Kelly’s Directory of 1916.
His brother, Joseph Henry Beeby, ran a watch repair business from 28 Main Road, Jacksdale and resided at ‘Fairham’ 27 York Avenue, Jacksdale.
His brother ‘Bill’ was a well know character in the village and was a hairdresser for many years.