LIVES OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE
The E.J. Boys Archive

1570, Private Benjamin BEESON — 11th Hussars

Birth & early life

Born at Gaywood, near King's Lynn, Norfolk.

The son of Richard Beeson, a Baker, of Nelson St, Lynn, and his wife, Mary.

Enlistment

Enlisted at King's Lynn on the 5th of November 1852.

Age: 22.

Height: 5' 7".

Trade: Groom.

Appearance: Fresh complexion. Hazel eyes. Dk. brown hair.

Service

"Brigade Orderly" from the 1st of January 1855.

Attached to the 4th Light Dragoons on Mounted Police Duty in 1858, and on detached duty in the Riding School at Sandhurst during 1859/60.

Transferred to the 12th Lancers at Sandhurst on the 1st of March 1861.

Discharge & pension

Discharged, "time expired", from Manchester on the 12th of November 1864.

Served 12 years 6 days.

In Turkey and the Crimea: 2 years 1 month.

Conduct: "very good". In possession of three Good Conduct badges.

Medals

Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol, and the Turkish medal.

Further detailed medal information archived.

Commemorations

Attended the first Balaclava Banquet in 1875.

Member of the Balaclava Commemoration Society in 1879.

Signed the Loyal Address to the Queen in 1887.

Attended the Annual Dinners in 1890-95 and 1899.

(Click on image to enlarge)

In 1897, along with 64 other Chargers, he signed the illuminated Address to TH Roberts.

He also received some help from the Roberts Fund.

He appeared with other Crimean War veterans as a "Battle of Balaklava Hero" in the Lord Mayor's Show, 9th of November 1890. According to the specially printed programme for the event, he travelled in the 13th carriage in the procession.

Life after service

Immediately after his discharge from the Army, he was employed as an Attendant at the Broadmoor Criminal Lunatic Asylum [now Broadmoor Hospital], Crowthorne, Berkshire.

Broadmoor Criminal Lunatic Asylum in 1867

[PB, Jan 2014: Since Benjamin Beeson was discharged at the end of 1864, this implies he was among the first to be employed at Broadmoor, while many of the buildings were still being constructed. According to Wikipedia, the first patient was a female admitted for infanticide, on 27 May 1863, and the first male patients arrived on 27 February 1864.

The original building plan of five blocks for men and one for women, designed by the military engineer Sir Joshua Jebb, was completed in 1868.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadmoor_Hospital (accessed 19.1.2014). It is possible there is more information in the Berkshire Record Office, which looks after the historic archives of Broadmoor Hospital. Visit http://www.berkshirerecordoffice.org.uk.]

(Click on image to enlarge)

He and his wife, Jane, had five known children, two sons and three daughters. He later lived with one of his sons, Thomas, at Headley. He also lived at some time at 20, Sanderstead Road, Brighton Road, South Croydon, Surrey.

1871 Census

2, Alma Cottage, Streatham, Surrey.

Benjamin Beeson, 40, Police Constable, born Gaywood.

Jane, 33, born Cornwall.

Two children shown: Jane 2, Benjamin 8 months. [RM]

1881 Census

Police Station, Sanderstead, Surrey

The 1881 Census shows him as aged 51, a Police Constable (Mounted), born at Gaywood, Suffolk, living with his wife, Jane, aged 42, born at Marazion, Cornwall. Five children are shown, two boys and three girls. [CP]

1881 Census

Surrey Sanderstead District 3

Ref. RG11/807

Police Station

Benjamin Beeson, Head, M, 51, Police Constable [Mounted], Norfolk Gaywood

Jane Beeson, Wife, M, 42, Cornwall Marazion

Jane Beeson, Dau, 12, Scholar, Middlesex Westminster

Benjamin Beeson, Son, 10, Scholar, Surrey Streatham

Thomas Beeson, Son, 8, Scholar, Surrey Sanderstead

Frances Beeson, Dau, 7, Scholar, Surrey Sanderstead

Emily Beeson, Dau, 5, Scholar, Surrey Sanderstead

[WL]

Death registered

Jane Beeson, 45, December Quarter 1883, Croydon.

1891 Census

By the 1891 Census, he was a widower, a "Police Constable", living at Sanderstead, with two daughters and a son. [RM]

1891 Census

Surrey Sanderstead District 3

Ref. RG12/585

Sanderstead

Benjamin Beeson, Head, Widowed, 60, Police Constable, Employed, Norfolk Gaywood

Jane Beeson, Dau, S, 22, Middlesex Westminster

Benjamin Beeson, Son, S, 20, Gardener [Domestic], Employed, Surrey Streatham

Emily Beeson, Dau, S, 15, Teacher, Board-School, Employed, Surrey Sanderstead

[WL]

1891 Census

23 Sanderstead Rd, St Augustine's, Croydon

In 1901 he is listed as a "Police pensioner", and was living with a single daughter, Jane, aged 32. [RM]

1901 Census

Surrey Croydon District 18

Ref. RG13/637

23 Sanderstead Road

Benjamin Beeson, Head, Widr, 71, Police Pensioner, Norfolk Gaywood

Jane Beeson, Dau, S, 32, Housekeeper [at home], London Westminster

[WL]

Death & burial

Died on the 25th of December 1908 and was buried in the churchyard of All Saints' Church, Sanderstead, Surrey, on the 30th of December.

The burial register shows the following: "December 30th 1908. Benjamin Beeson, late 11th Hussars. Military and Police funeral."

(Click on image to enlarge)

His gravestone bears the inscription:

"Jane, wife of Benjamin Beeson, who died October the 9th 1883. "He giveth his beloved, peace." Also of Benjamin Beeson, the husband of the above, who was called to rest on Christmas Day 1908, aged 78 years. "One of the survivors of the famous Charge at Balaclava, 1854."

"When will their glory fade,

Oh, the wild charge they made,

Noble Six Hundred."

There is a photograph of this stone in the 11th Hussar file.

Further information

A comprehensive pamphlet on his life, death and funeral, written by [name?] a Surrey policeman, was published in the Metropolitan Police Magazine, The Warren, in 1976.

There is a copy of this in the "Memoirs" file, and also a photograph of Beeson mounted on a white horse, taken at a Lord Mayor's show, report of his funeral taken from a local newspaper of the time, and a copy of a news item which appeared in the Eastern Daily Press, 31st of January 1976, in the 11th Hussar file.

His greater family is still in possession of his medals, discharge documents, and soldier's account book, from both the Army and the Metropolitan Police (in which he served from 1866 to 1892).

BENJAMIN BEESON

BORN: 1825 [or 1830/1831 acc. to Census Returns]

AT: Croydon Surrey or [Gaywood Norfolk Census Returns]

1st REGIMENT NO: 1570 [11th Hussars]

2nd REGIMENT NO: 1570 [4th Light Dragoons]

ENLISTED: Nov 1852

RANK: 1858: Private

MEDALS: Crimea, ABIS clasps

TRANSFERRED FROM: 11th Hussars 16 07 1858

NOTES: According to Honour the Light Brigade transferred from 11th Hussars to the 12th Lancers on 01 03 1861 and was discharged in 1864.

He rode in the Charge of the Light Brigade with the 11th Hussars.

He is recorded as having attended the first Balaclava Banquet on 25 10 1875, and annual Balaclava dinners in 1890, 1895 and 1899.

Member of the Balaclava Commemoration Society from 1879 and signed the Loyal Address in 1887.

Honour the Light Brigade makes no mention of Beeson's service with the 4th Light Dragoons.

The 4LD Pay and Muster Rolls don't show him leaving the regiment prior to 1867, but he is not included in the regimental roll taken at the time the regiment departed for India in October 1867.

DISCHARGED: 1864

POST DISCHARGE OCCUPATION[S]: A beneficiary of financial assistance from the T.H. Roberts Relief Fund.

Police officer for 26 years

Resided at Sanderstead Road, Brighton Road, South Croydon

DIED: 25 12 1908 Epsom

BURIED: Buried in All Saints churchyard, Sanderstead, Surrey

1ST WIFE: Jane Jenkin

BORN: c1839 Cornwall Marazion

MARRIED: 1Q 1868 Westminster Ref. 1a 529

DIED: 4Q 1883 aged 45 years Croydon Ref. 2a 115

CHILD: Jane

BORN: c1869 Westminster Middlesex

CHILD: Benjamin

BORN: c1871 Streatham Surrey

CHILD: Thomas

BORN: c1873 Sanderstead Surrey

CHILD: Frances

BORN: c1874 Sanderstead Surrey

BAPTISED: 07 06 1874 Sanderstead Surrey

CHILD: Emily

BORN: c1876 Sanderstead Surrey

BAPTISED: 02 01 1876 Sanderstead Surrey

1881 CENSUS: Surrey Sanderstead District 3

Ref. RG11/807

Police Station

Benjamin Beeson, Head, M, 51, Police Constable [Mounted], Norfolk Gaywood

Jane Beeson, Wife, M, 42, Cornwall Marazion

Jane Beeson, Dau, 12, Scholar, Middlesex Westminster

Benjamin Beeson, Son, 10, Scholar, Surrey Streatham

Thomas Beeson, Son, 8, Scholar, Surrey Sanderstead

Frances Beeson, Dau, 7, Scholar, Surrey Sanderstead

Emily Beeson, Dau, 5, Scholar, Surrey Sanderstead

__________

1891 CENSUS: Surrey Sanderstead District 3

Ref. RG12/585

Sanderstead

Benjamin Beeson, Head, Widowed, 60, Police Constable, Employed, Norfolk Gaywood

Jane Beeson, Dau, S, 22, Middlesex Westminster

Benjamin Beeson, Son, S, 20, Gardener [Domestic], Employed, Surrey Streatham

Emily Beeson, Dau, S, 15, Teacher, Board-School, Employed, Surrey Sanderstead

__________

1901 CENSUS: Surrey Croydon District 18

Ref. RG13/637

23 Sanderstead Road

Benjamin Beeson, Head, Widr, 71, Police Pensioner, Norfolk Gaywood

Jane Beeson, Dau, S, 32, Housekeeper [at home], London Westminster

__________

TNA SOURCES: WO/12/663

OTHER SOURCES: Ancestry.com Census Returns

IGI

Honour the Light Brigade

Brigade: The Further Adventures of Lestrade by M. J. Trow [novel] pub. 2000

LINKS: http://genforum.genealogy.com/crimeanwar/messages/175.html

[Source: Wendy Leahy, Shadows of Time: Benjamin Beeson.]

Laurence Crider, In Search of the Light Brigade:

Beeson, Pte Benjamin, (1570), 11th H (p 147)[Dutton 135] Bn in I825, in Croydon, Surrey. Enl 11-52. At sea 2nd Mstr; at Devna 3rd Mstr [54-2-5]. Rode in Charge [BCS 1879]. In Hosp 2nd Mstr [54-4-5]. Brigade orderly 1st Mstr, Vet Dep 3rd Mstr [55-1-5]. Hosp orderly 1st Mstr; in Hosp 2nd Mstr [55-2-5]. Det 2nd & 3rd Mstrs [55-4-5]. Det in Crimea all 3 Mstrs [56-1-5]. W/ Svc Trps entire period [54-1 to 56-1]. Medal [391/398] w/ A [391/398], B [408], I [391/398], & S [414] Clasps. Dc 1864. Att FBB 10-25-75 [ILN 10-30-75 442]. Member BCS 1877 & 1879 [GM 39]. Signed Loyal Address of 1887. Att Ann. Dinners in 1890, 1895, & 1899. Beeson rcvd financial aid fr the T. H. Roberts Fund. Lived at 20 Sanderstead Road, Brighton Road, South Croydon. Died 12-25-1908, at Epsom. Buried in All Saints churchyard, Sanderstead, Surrey. HIS ACCOUNT OF EVENTS OF THE CHARGE: **(new entry) "Private B. Beeson. I rode in the centre of the right squadron. During the Charge I neither saw nor heard Lord Paget give any command to the 11th, nor did I hear him give any order to Colonel Douglas." [Victorian RSM 240 cit Paget].

NB. LC also refers to the "excellent biographical entry" about BB in Roy Dutton's Forgotten Heroes, with info. provided by Patrick Hosford, accessible online here. The account varies in some respects from that in the EJBA, e.g. in stating that BB was the son of a farm labourer, not a baker. Follow up.

Benjamin Beeson, in Roy Dutton, Forgotten Heroes, p.135.

[PB: Check whether higher resolution versions of the images are in the EJBA.]

(Click on image to enlarge)

Links

• british-genealogy.com/archive/index.php/t-26467.html
• genforum.genealogy.com/crimeanwar/messages/175.html
• hattam.co.uk/familytree/individual.php?pid=I19424&ged=hattam.ged — may contain additional info — Follow up.

References & acknowledgements

Registration of death, and Census information for 1881, kindly provided by Chris Poole. The editors are very grateful to Wendy Leahy for permission to quote at length from her "Shadows of Time" website.