Eric Ernest Marlow Bee

This story and photos are shared by the Trust with kind permission from Mavis Williams, Researcher and Kevin Scrivens great grandson of Ernest and Frances Bee.

Eric Ernest Marlow Bee was born on the 4th of November 1919, the son of Ernest & Eileen Bee (née Marlow) and is seen on the Baptismal Records of the All Souls Church, Harlesden, Brent on the 2nd of April 1920. They were living at 29, Connaught Road, and Ernest Bee’s profession was ‘Professional.’ Eric's birth certificate reveals that his father was a music hall artist.

Ernie Bee, date unknown

 

Thanks to Kevin Scrivens, whose Grandmother, Molly Frances Georgina Alexandra Bellisario and known as Molly Frances Georgina Alexandra Bee, we can unravel Eric Ernest Bee’s life, up to a point. Ernest Bee was born Ernesto Luigi Gabrielo Bellasario, the son of Luigi (Gabriel) & Amelia Bellisario, Photographer, 62, Adam Street, Cardiff. He first married Frances Georgina Russell in June 1901 in Liverpool and they had two children, Molly Frances Georgina Alexandra Bellisario, born in 1902, and Ernesto Luigi Garibaldi Bellisario, in 1905. Frances Russell was a Theatrical Actress according to the 1911 census. These two children were also known with the surname Bee on different censuses.

Eileen Bee was also known as Vivienne Marlow and on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Citation for Eric Ernest Bee, his parents were named as Ernest and Helene Bee, so I suspect that this was another pseudonym for Eileen. The reason for the other names and personas was because they were both Music Hall Artistes and travelled all around the UK performing, leaving their offspring in different locations, separately.

Kevin Scrivens gave us an insight into his grandmother’s life. My grandmother always referred to Eric's mother as Vivienne, and as her father's mistress. Their travelling life as actors didn't suit having small children and my grandmother lived with a lady in Salford until she was 12. Her brother Ernie was left with a family in London. My grandma does remember travelling from theatre to theatre when she was little and sleeping in the wicker hampers that the costumes were travelled in. She says she was spoilt by all the actresses, but as soon as she was 4, she was sent to school in Salford. When she was 12, she went to the family in London where her brother was, but she didn't really know him. She did remember Eric but never talked about him much. I expect his young life was much like hers. I don't know what happened to Vivienne, but my great grandfather appears on the 1939 register on his own.

Whilst Eric Bee’s early life is a mystery we do see him on the 1939 National Register which was taken on the 19th of September 1939. He is seen living at 52, St. Michael’s Road, Aldershot, Hampshire. He is in the household of William Campbell, a Theatrical Stage Manager (Travelling) and six other people. Eric is single and working in the Theatrical Business (Travelling) so he is carrying on the family tradition of the theatre.

I do not know when Eric Ernest Bee was to enlist or was conscripted but he was to find himself fighting on D-Day and laid down his life for our freedom. He served with 47 (Royal Marine) Commando who landed on Gold Beach on D-Day with units of 50th (Northumbrian) Division. Eric Bee was killed in action on D-Day and initially buried in Ver-sur-Mer. On the 6th of February 1945 he was reburied in the Bayeux British Cemetery where he now lies.