William Bertie Bealing

Story:
William Bertie Bealing was born at Sherborne Causeway, Enmore Green, Dorset, on 20th October 1896, the son of William George Bealing and Martha Bealing (nee Smart). He lived his early life in the Sherborne Causeway area. He enlisted on 15th June 1914 and joined the 2nd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 200587). (His second name was shown as Bertram on Military Records whereas the General Register Office record indicates 'Bertie'). He served in India and then Egypt and Gaza. On the 14th June 1918 he received a gunshot wound in the lower forearm. He was demobilized on 28th June 1919. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the Territorial Forces War Medal. In 1921 he married Lily (or Lilian) Evelyn Oliver in Poole, Dorset, and they went on to have one son. The 1921 Electoral Roll shows him living at the Police Station, Poole, Dorset, he being a Police Constable. By the 1939 Register the family were still living in Poole in Police accommodation. The last known address was Nunwell, Cattistock, Dorset (1955 Probate Record) when his estate was wound up following his death in Dorchester County Hospital, Dorchester, on 25th June 1955 following which he was later buried in Dorchester Cemetery.