94th Battalion, Training Reserve
Jeffrey Beesley was born in Coln St Aldwyns, Gloucestershire in 1898, the eldest son of Edwin Joseph and Sarah Beesley (née Stone), of 2 Redgrove Cottages, Hatherley Lane, Cheltenham. His siblings were Janette (1897), Lilian (1900) and Leslie (1902-1953).
Jeffrey enlisted in Cheltenham on 13 October 1916 when he was aged 17 years and 11 months, into the 94th Training Reserve Battalion, 22nd Reserve Brigade, formerly the 16th (Reserve) Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment. He was listed as a 5’ 11¼” unmarried gardener, and his address was given as 2 Redgrove Cottages, Hatherley Lane, Cheltenham.
Jeffrey was admitted to the Military Hospital, Chiseldon Camp, Wiltshire on 25 March 1917 and died of bronchopneumonia at 2000 hours on 7 April 1917, aged 18. He is buried at Holy Trinity Church, Badgeworth, Gloucestershire, south east of the Church.
He is commemorated on the Badgeworth War Memorial (inside Holy Trinity Church), on the St. Mark’s Church Roll of Honour/Memorial and the Cheltenham Memorial where he is listed twice, as a Private in the 16th Gloucestershire Regiment, and also as J Beesley of the Training Reserve. It is understood his service number had been 27656.
Researched by Baden Russell circa 2019
In compiling this biography I wish to thank and acknowledge Dave and Jimmy James for their website ‘Leaving Cheltenham’; and Joe Devereux and Graham Sacker for their book ‘Leaving All That Was Dear’.
Photograph from a Public Family Tree in Ancestry