And then came COVID.
All requests were then paused and then turned into FOI requests.
At least they then became free.
Anyway, on Friday, after two years of updates stating there was no news, I get a mail that said the link to his file would be sent.
Two hours later, it was, and although the detail of service between July 1944 and July 1945 when we fought from Brittany through Belgium, Holland to Germany by way of Operation Market Garden and the bridge at Remagen.
William Amos Beamish was born on 16th May 1915, and was the Grandson of Amos Beamish, aka "The Barnby Giant", hence his middle name.
He was one of at least 12 children, all of which grew up and lived on the Rock Estate in Oulton Broad.
Grandad met Emma Meades, and they began stepping out. But Emma's Mother did not approve of William's trade, a labourer. So, he decided to join the Amry.To get a trade.
But the war and my Grandmother ensured that he left without a trade and left before he could become an NCO.
So it goes, so it goes.
So, from the records, which are 80% medical records, and most of those reports are for diarrhea, I have pieced together this.
03/02/1936: Attested in Norwich.
04/02/1936: Began basic training at Pirbright, Surrey.
29/04/1936: Became Guardsman IIIrd Class, Caterham, Surrey.30/05/1936: Passed Swimming Test.
17/07/1936: Joined 2nd Batallion Coldstream Guards.
30/02/1938: Passed Signaler's Course.
29/09/1939: Embarked for France.
01/06/1940: Evacuated from Dunkirk.
23/06/41: With the rest of the Batallion, assembed at North Somercotes, Lincolnshire. For rest of summer built defences along coast n preparation for German invasion.
16/09/1941: Posted.
16/12/1941: Posted to 5th Guards Armoured Brigade.
23/11/1941 to 17/01/1942: Attended 222 Signals Course, Taunton ECTG.
17/01/1942: Guardsman Ist Class.
07/06/1943 to 26/06/1943: Attended butchery course at Smithfield Institute
29/12/1943: Passed test as Cook class III Group B.
29/12/1943: Mustered as a Cook. Extra pay.
03/02/1944: Granted additional pay. Officer Commanding Coldream Guards informed.
REDACTED UNTIL 2045.
29/06/1944: Embarked for France.
01/07/1944: Promoted to Cook Class II.
17/09/1944 to 25/09/1944: Operation Market Garden.
23/03/1945: Operation Plunder.
07/12/1945: Repatriated to UK.
17/07/1946: Relegated to the reserve.25/07/1946: Released from service.
This is the account from the War Diary of the IInd Batallion of the Coldstream Guards for JUne 1st, 1940:
It soon became known that we were to withdraw to the beach and embark this evening.
Our supporting Artillery also knew this and they were determined to use up every round of ammunition they could lay their hands on.
The GERMANS now began in earnest to try and prevent our getting away.
Ugly rumours kept drifting in of GERMAN infiltration round our flanks.
The Carrier Platoon was therefore despatched to watch our Left Flank in the 3rd BRIGADE area by LES MOERES.
By mid-day No. 4 Company were forced to withdraw slightly from the banks of the Canal.
The whole countryside now being flooded, even if the enemy did cross he would be confined to the roads.
At about 1400 hours it appeared that the Battalion on our Right had withdrawn in the face of opposition, and No. 1 and No. 3 Companies had to form a defensive flank on their Right.
Lieutenant E.L. GIBBS Commanding No. 1 Company was killed about this time, as was 2nd Lieutenant C.A. BLACKWELL, the Signal Officer, who was attached to No. 1 Company.
At 1600 hours we were informed that the position could be abandoned at 2200 hours, and the difficult task of getting this news to the Forward Platoons began.
At 1900 hours the Adjutant led Battalion H.Q. back to the sea.
At 2100 hours we were told that Zero Hour could be put forward to 2100 hours, and about the same time the news arrived that Major McCORQUODALE, commanding No. 3 Company had been killed, and also 2/Lieutenant R.D.E. SPEED, the remaining Officer in No. 1 Company.
No. 4 Company which was the last out of the Line still had all its Officers and thus the Battalion reached the sea covered by the Carriers who took up a position on the DUNKIRK Canal until 0200 hours, when, in accordance with his orders, Lieutenant The EARL of DEVON abandoned his vehicles and immobilised them.
The Battalion reached the beach a mile or two East of DUNKIRK Mole about 0130 hours, and joined several of the many long queues already waiting to embark.
About half were fortunate enough to get off before dawn when the ROYAL NAVY ceased operating until the evening.
Those left on shore were taken back into the sand dunes and ordered to dig in.
During this day there was plenty of food, and fortunately immunity from enemy shells and bombs, though all round were remains of earlier bombardments.
Shortly after 2100 hours the party was told to march down to the Mole and was soon on board H.M Destroyer “SABRE”.
In the days that followed the remnants of the Battalion re-assembled at WALTON, near WAKEFIELD.
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