BEERE, John William
Next of Kin: James Beere, brother, Shirley School, Croydon, England
Occupation: Farmer
Personal Details: 5 ft. 2 ½ in., 115 lbs., fair complexion, blue eyes, fair hair, Church of England
John William Beere began life as John William “Buck”, the same last name as his father. When John’s father died, his mother became the sole supporter of the family. She reverted to using her maiden name, Eleanor Louise “Beere”, and the children adopted the same surname. By 1911 the family was destitute and Eleanor was forced to surrender her youngest children, James, 9, and Winnifred, 8, to the Bermondsey Workhouse School. John and his mother lived in a single room, where John earned what he could as an errand boy, and Eleanor was employed as a tin solderer making export jam tins for Crosse & Blackwell. In August 1912, and just months before his 13th birthday, John made the decision to leave England. With $2.00 in his pocket he sailed for Canada, declaring that he was going to Elimville to work on his brother’s farm. The 1911 Census showed John’s brother, Joseph, came to Canada in 1905, and was working on the farm of George and Olive Hunter at Lot 5, Con 4 in Usborne Township. A month after John’s arrival in Canada his mother died.
When war was declared he answered the call and travelled to London, Ontario and enlisted with the 71st Battalion. John told the recruiter that he was 19 years old, almost 20. In fact, John was only 15 years old.
The 71st Battalion embarked at Montreal on November 11, 1915 aboard the S.S. Metagama, and arrived in England ten days later. On May 5, 1916, John was transferred to the 4th Battalion and proceeded to the front, joining his unit in the field on May 29th. Less than a month later he suffered a gunshot wound to his right elbow near Ypres, Belgium, and on June 23, 1916 was invalided back to England aboard Hospital Ship Newhaven. On his arrival, Private Beere was admitted to the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in London, where he underwent treatment for almost two months. In early August he was transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Bromley, Kent, and then on to the 36th Reserve Battalion at West Sandling. On October 27, 1916 he was sent back to the 4th Battalion, proceeded overseas once more, and rejoined his unit in the field on November 3, 1916.
Private Beere was reported sick on March 26, 1917, and admitted to No. 13 Stationary Hospital in Boulogne, France on April 14th with a septic left foot. He was transferred to No. 1 Convalescent Depot two days later, and discharged to Canadian Base Depot at Harfleur the next day. He joined No. 26 Infantry Base Depot in late June 1917. In mid-August Private Beere forfeited 3 days’ pay and was confined to camp for 4 days for being absent from 8:15 a.m. parade. He joined the 1st Canadian Infantry Base Depot on September 2, 1917, and shortly thereafter left for the Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp. On September 11th he rejoined the 4th Battalion in the field.
Private Beere spent Christmas 1917 in England after he was granted 14 days leave. Two days after his return to France he was sentenced to 7 days Field Punishment No. 1 for entering an officer’s mess improperly dressed and without being paraded by an N.C.O.
On April 12, 1918 he was admitted to No. 42 Casualty Clearing Station with a sprained left knee. After being evacuated by No. 33 Hospital Train he was admitted to No. 24 General Hospital at Etaples on April 21st. A week later Private Beere was transferred to No. 6 Convalescent Depot, then on to No. 5 Convalescent Depot at Cayeux. In early May he was discharged to Canadian Base Depot at Etaples where he spent a month before leaving for the Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp. By mid-August he rejoined his unit in the field once again.
On September 30, 1918, the 4th Canadian Infantry Battalion was ordered to attack and capture, on the following morning, the Village of Abancourt. At 5:00 a.m. the infantry advanced under a rolling barrage, but was exposed to murderous enemy artillery and machine-gun fire. “A” and “B” Companies managed to get through the enemy wire that was not previously cut, and shortly after they passed, the enemy emerged from well concealed positions and prepared to fire at their rear. “C” Company engaged the enemy in hand-to-hand fighting and killed the whole garrison. “A” and “B” Companies continued to follow their barrage and were now coming to the crest of a ridge. At this point the barrage became ragged and was falling short which caused confusion and casualties. When they reached the sunken Blecourt Road the enemy emerged from funk holes in the side of the road and prepared to fire at the backs of the advancing companies. Once again “C” Company rushed forward and cleared the enemy threat.
As the day progressed so did the intensity of the enemy machine-gun fire from the railway embankment and the high ground opposite the left flank, which was supposed to be secured by the 11th British Division. A barrage was ordered for 09:00 – 09:10 a.m. to allow the 11th British Division to advance and give “D” Company the chance to pass through the forward Companies. The barrage was so feeble and inaccurate that it did nothing to deter the enemy machine-gun fire, and the Battalion Commander called off the advance. “A”, “B” and “C” Companies then withdrew behind the support of “D” Company, who formed a line of resistance in the sunken road.
During the day 38 were killed, 118 wounded, 9 were missing and 7 men were gassed. John Beere was among the dead. The Circumstances of Death Report indicated the following: Killed in action. This soldier was acting as rifleman and was lying in front of a sunken way, when he was instantly killed by enemy shell fire. Notifications were sent to John’s brother James, of Croydon, England, and his sister Winnifred, of Dublin, Ireland.
