Private William Harold “Bill” Beeby
44610 Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment)
30223 Yorkshire Regiment (The Green Howards)
Bill Beeby front left, Les Beeby right
William “Bill” Beeby was born in 1897, at number 7 Stone Row (Jacksdale Street) , Jacksdale and was the son of William Beeby an iron puddler and his wife Hannah (nee Eaglefield).
At the age of nineteen, on 29th April 1916, Bill enlisted with the Sherwood Foresters at Derby, service number 44610 and was called up for service on 1st May 1916 with the 13th Sherwood Foresters. As Bill was not married he gave his father’s details as next of kin and home address as Sedgwick Street, Jacksdale. His occupation was recorded as hairdresser, religion as Primitive Methodist and place of birth as the Parish of Selston. On 5th June 1916 he was transferred to the 2nd Garrison Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment, service number 30223. He served at home within the UK until 25 May 1917 when he was posted to France for five months, returning to the UK on 3rd October 1917.
He was demobilised 25th Sep 1919 returning to his home address of 11, Sedgwick Street, Jacksdale and was awarded an army pension of 8/- a week due to a curvature of his spine. He was recipient of the Victory and British War Medals.
He had brothers, George Leslie “Les”, John Leonard and Joseph Henry
His brother 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 other brother, Joseph Henry Beeby, ran a watch repair business from 28 Main Road, Jacksdale and resided at ‘Fairham’ 27 York Avenue, Jacksdale.
During WW2, Bill also served in the Civil Defence Force (Home Guard).
Bill was a very well known character in the village, being a Gentleman’s hairdresser. His premises, which have now been demolished, were situated on the Selston Road, next to where the old Picture Palace was sited. He was also a ladies hairdresser, operating from an old railway carriage sited at the back of his Selston Road shop.
Beeby’s Hairdressers, Selston Road, Jacksdale
He continued in the business right up to his death in January 1966, aged 68.