Regiment: Army Service Corps.
Died: 28 April 1920 aged 23 in United Kingdom. Died from tuberculosis.
Cemetery: Sutton Cemetery
Born 14 Feb 1897 at 148 Bedford Hill, Balham. Son of Sydney Benjamin Beale (an Architect) and Elizabeth Beale (nee Davis),
Sutton House, Brighton Road, Sutton.
Upper IV — Lower Modern I.
Land Agent. Great War 1914-19 (overseas),
Second Lieutenant, 400th Company Royal Army Service Corps.
Lieutenant, Army Service Corps.
He enlisted on the 16th October 1914, and received a commission in the R.A.S.C as a 2nd Lieutenant on the 21st June 1915 in the 400 Army Service Corps Mechanical Transport Company (No 5 GHQ Ammo Park) which was responsible for ammunition.
The unit embarked from Grove Park for France on the 1st August 1915, and he was one of six 2nd Lieutenants under Captain Boyle.
By the 1st October 1915 the unit was based at Bavinchove, and 2nd Lieut D V Beale was the Officer in Charge of 6 Daimler 3 ton lorries with 860 rounds 4.5 howitzer high explosive ammunition which were sent to Strazeele.
He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 25th June 1916, and was nominated for a permanent commission in the Regular Army.
By August 1916, the unit was based at Les Trois Bois, and Lt Beale rejoined the Headquarters of the park from the Second Army Grenade School, and he was listed as the officer in charge of 60 men.
On 13th September 1917, he was involved in a motorbike accident as follows:
'I Lieut. D. V. Beale hereby declare that the injury sustained by me on the 13th Sept 1917 occurred while I was in the performance of military duty.
On 13-9-17 while proceeding from Boulogne to Desvres at about 8.15pm, on a Douglas Motor Cycle with a very poor illuminated light, crossing the main road was a French wood carrying cart with no light. I saw the horse and driver and two wheels pass in front, so swerved to my right, thinking that I should clear the whole cart. But instead, there was another 8 or 9 feet of the cart jutting out behind the driver's seat. This was impossible to avoid, thus it struck me on the right arm forcing me backwards, my left knee coming in contact with my handle bars which were twisted to the left.
D. V. Beale, Lieut. A.S.C.'
The accident resulted in the fracture of his left patella. At a Medical Board Hearing on 2nd May 1918 it was found, 'his condition much improved; can play a round of golf in comfort. Thigh muscles still rather wasted. Fit for Command Depot.'
He was also considered in general good health a year later at another hearing on the 3rd March 1919 though still suffered with pain from his knee.
However, he died a year later on the 28th April 1920 from pulmonary tuberculosis. It was considered that the disease was contracted within 3 years of death and so there was a remission of death duties.
He is buried at Sutton Cemetery, and the gravestone is inscribed that he 'died of an illness contracted in the war'.
References:
Malvern College Register (1924 edition), page 567.
Service record at National Archives, Kew: WO 339/4901.
Unit War Diary: WO 95/131/1
Medal Card: WO 372/2/55416
Photo of Gravestone at FindaGrave
Family Tree at Ancestry