I thought I’d share this little story with you, which I found in looking through the WW1 pension records – two sets that is!

2753 Private William Bees was serving with the 1st Battalion Derbyshire Regiment (Sherwood Foresters) when he won the Victoria Cross in 1901.

The citation reads:-

“For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. On 30th September 1901, at Moedwil, South Africa, Private Bees was one of the a Maxim-Gun detachment which suffered heavy casualties, six out of nine men being hit. Hearing his wounded comrades asking for water, Private Bees went forward under heavy fire to a spriot held by the Boars about 500 years ahead of the Gun, and brought back a kettle filled with water. In going and returning he had to pass within 100 yards of some rocks also held by the boars and the kettle he was carrying was hit by several bullets”

A truly brave man……..but what a rogue.

On 2nd October 1914 he enlisted in the Sherwood Foresters aged 42 years and was posted to the 12th Battalion. He was formerly discharged on 27th October as medically unfit.

On the 19th October 1914 (8 days before he was discharged) he enlisted in the Royal West Surry Regiment in London aged 31 years and was posted to the 7th Battalion. He was found to be “totally inefficient and unreliable” and on the 11th November he was issued a weeks leave to secure civil employment before discharge.

He remained absent and had left a false address with the battalion. Finally the police were able to trace him to Coalville and on 9th December the Leicestershire Constabulary paid him a visit. On being told he was going to be arrested he produced his discharge certificate from the 12th Sherwood Foresters and told the police he would be “found at this address if there were any orders for him”. They left.  

And the Army did not know what to do with him……… 

On the 17th December the OC 7(S) Battn The Queens requested that Sergeant Bees should be discharged because “he is a very undesirable type”.

On the 21st December the OC 55th Division submitted the matter for the decision of the GOC 18th Division.

On the 19th January he was discharged under para 392 (XI) KR – For Misconduct.

And the best bit!

On his Attestation to the Royal Surrey Regiment, when it asks he has ever been rejected as unfit – he put YES, then crossed it out and put NO!

I had a little chuckle.

His Medals were later gifted to theRegiment at the Annual Dinner of the Old Comrades Association in October 1938.

Enlisted in October 1914; Served with “B” Company and later with the Trench Mortar Battery. An enquiry was later sent to the Red Cross regarding his capture.

The different spellings of his name make him a difficult man to track down.

Walter won a Military Medal during a raid on the German trenches – see here