In memory of John Edward Beech
Sadly there is no known photograph to accompany this tribute to John Edward (Eddie) Beech, writes Ruth Pritchard. Born in Rhyl in 1896, he was brought up in Clwyd Street along with elder sister May and younger sister Elsie. His father was Edward George Hope Beech who died when Eddie was four. His mother was Mary Dodgson Beech, née Hughes.
The surnames Beech and Hope were well known in Rhyl at the time. The Beech family owned a bill-posting and advertising business in the town, also a large china and glass shop. Eddie’s great grandfather was Edward Hope, one of Rhyl’s earliest residents and at one time keeper of the town's Market Hall.
Eddie served with the 15th Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and was killed in action on 22 July 1916, aged 20. This was three weeks after the Allies launched an offensive in the Somme area of France. The preliminary bombardment – intended to demolish most of the German defences – had lasted seven days but made little impact. Consequently the Allies suffered heavy casualties at the Battle of the Somme, which lasted until November.
Eddie’s body was never identified. He is remembered with honour on the Thiepval Memorial, along with more than 72,000 others who fell in the battle and have no known grave.
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