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Thomas Beach (VC)

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Thomas Beach
Depiction of the Battle of Inkerman
Born(1824-01-24)24 January 1824
Dundee,Scotland
Died24 August 1864(1864-08-24)(aged 40)
Dundee, Scotland
Buried
Eastern Necropolis, Dundee
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Army
Years of service1840–1863
RankPrivate
Unit92nd Regiment of Foot
55th Regiment of Foot(att'd)
Battles/warsCrimean War
AwardsVictoria Cross

Thomas BeachVC(24 January 1824 – 24 August 1864) was aBritish Armysoldier and a Scottish recipient of theVictoria Cross,the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British andCommonwealthforces. Beach suffered from severe alcoholism later in life. He died due to his alcoholism at the age of 40.[1]

Military service

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Beach joined theBritish Armyat the age of sixteen, being assigned to the92nd Regiment of Foot(Gordon Highlanders) on 30 April 1840.[2]He was posted to a variety of locations, including the West Indies and the Greek Isles. When theCrimean Warbroke out in 1854, his regiment was posted toGibraltaras a garrison force. Beach volunteered to be seconded to another unit which was going to Crimea, and he was placed with the55th Regiment of Foot.[3]

It was in Crimea that he conducted himself in a manner that would later result in him being awarded theVictoria Crossfor gallantry in the face of the enemy. His medal citation reads:

On 5 November 1854 at theBattle of Inkerman,Crimea, when on piquet duty, Private Beach attacked several Russians who were plundering Lieut.-Colonel Carpenter, 41st Regiment, who was lying wounded on the ground. He killed two of the Russians, and protected Lieut.-Colonel Carpenter until the arrival of some men of the 41st Regiment. "[4][5]

Although the official citation does not specify the exact number of opposing soldiers, Beach held off and fought a total of 5 Russians, with 2 of the opposing side killed.[1]

It was the first Victoria Cross to be awarded to a member of the regiment.[6]Alongside MajorFrederick Cockayne Elton,Beach was presented with the VC by General Ferguson on 20 July 1857.[7]

In addition to the Victoria Cross, during his time in the military he was awarded two good conduct medals. However he was also placed 21 times in the regimental defaulters book and was twice tried by court martial.[8]The 1861 census of England, Wales and Scotland placed him living inPerth, Scotland.[9]

Later life and legacy

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After leaving the army in June 1863 following 23 years of service, including seven and a half years overseas,[8]he became a railway labourer. Less than a year later he had died from the effects of alcohol poisoning in theDundee Royal Infirmary.[3]

Beach was buried in apauper's gravesomewhere in the Eastern Necropolis in Dundee. The exact location of the burial is unknown due to the number of mass graves in that area. On 17 May 2003, a bench dedicated to him was placed in Necropolis, alongside a bench devoted to fellow Victoria Cross holderPeter Grant,who is also buried somewhere in the area in a similar grave.[10]On 20 October 2006, a $1.50 stamp was issued inKiribaticommemorating Beach's Victoria Cross action. A drawing of it which had previously appeared in theIllustrated London Newswas used.[11]

His medal is held at theSheesh Mahalfort inLahore,Pakistan. It forms part of a collection which was gathered byBhupinder Singh of Patialaduring the 1920s.[3]

References

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  1. ^ab"Thomas Beach VC – victoriacross".vconline.org.uk.Retrieved11 April2021.
  2. ^"British Army Service Records 1760–1915 Transcription".Findmypast.Retrieved30 September2014.
  3. ^abcKing, Brian (2011).Undiscovered Dundee.Edinburgh: Black & White Pub.ISBN9781845028466.
  4. ^"No. 21971".The London Gazette.24 February 1857. p. 660.
  5. ^"The Victoria Cross".Stirling Observer.Vol. XXI, no. 1075.British Newspaper Archive.12 March 1857. p. 4.Retrieved30 September2014.
  6. ^Royle, Trevor (2007).The Gordon Highlanders: A Concise History.Edinburgh: Mainstream.ISBN9781845962708.
  7. ^"The Victoria Cross".Morning Post.No. 26078.British Newspaper Archive.30 July 1857. p. 5.Retrieved30 September2014.
  8. ^ab"British Army Service Records 1760–1915 Image".Findmypast.Retrieved30 September2014.
  9. ^"1861 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription".Findmypast.Retrieved30 September2014.
  10. ^Shand, William."Dundee VC winners given recognition".Dundee Messenger.Retrieved30 September2014.
  11. ^"KI034.06".Universal Postal Union.Retrieved30 September2014.
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