Alfred Henry James Beard

This story and photos are shared by the Trust with kind permission from Mavis Williams, Researcher. Photo courtesy of Len, FindaGrave.com

Alfred Henry James Beard, known as Fred to his family, was born 9th October 1915 in the Westbury on Seven Registration District, Gloucestershire. He was the eldest son of Henry & Bertha Beard, who had married in the Parish Church of Longhope, Gloucestershire on the 12th of August 1914. They would eventually have four children: Alfred, born 1915; Cyril, born 1920; Phillip, born 1922; and Barbara, born 1925.

Alfred's father was to serve in WW1 in the 9th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment. He was sent to join them in Mesopotamia in November 1916 and he was demobbed in January 1920.

So, on the 19th of June 1921, when the 1921 census was taken we see the little family together again, living at Pound Cottage, Longhope. Henry was working as a Woodturner for Stephen William Constance Saw Mills at Longhope and Bertha was doing ‘Home Duties.’

The next time we see the family is on the 1939 National Register, which was taken on the 29th of September 1939 and the family are still in Pound Cottage.  Alfred Beard was single and was working as a ‘Motor Van Driver’. His sister, Barbara, was single and ‘Seeking Work’ and his brother, Cyril had moved out of the family home and was living at 71 Cotterell Street, Hereford and working as a ‘Cell Boy’ for the Great Western Railway. Philip Beard was not recorded in the 1939 Register so his whereabouts are unknown at this time.

Sadly, I have no information on Alfred Beard, neither his early or teen years.  He joined the Somerset Light Infantry in May 1940, and was posted to the 10th Battalion which eventually became the 7th (Light Infantry) Parachute Battalion in 1942. He was to find himself fighting on D-Day and laid down his life for our freedom.

He landed in Normandy as part of Operation Tonga (6th Airborne Division's parachute and glider assault in the early hours of D-Day). Alfred was presumed killed in action on 6th June. He lies buried alongside the rest of his comrades in a communal plot in La Deliverande War Cemetery, Douvres.

British Normandy Memorial - Additional Information

Unfortunately, we do not have a photo of Alfred Beard. If you are aware of one, or you are related to Alfred, we would love to hear from you so we can add to his story.