Ernest Beeby was tried at Huppy by Field General courts-martial, in France, on 15 November 1916 with the charge of desertion.
Pioneer Ernest Beeby pleaded not guilty to the charge of desertion. He was examined by a Medical Commission headed by the DADMS of 33rd Division (Major G.W.G. Hughes DSO assisted by Captain J.W. Wilson RAMC and Captain J.H. Morris RAMC). This commission found that he understood that the act he was tried for was wrong and he understood the consequences of his action. Therefore, the Medical Commission found that Pioneer Beeby was sane and fit to stand trial.
| PRESIDENT | Major L.F. Leader (4th King’s L’Pool) |
| MEMBERS | Captain C.E. Going (1st Middlesex) |
| 2/Lieutenant C.P. Parry-Crooks (1/4th Suffolks) |
The following is an extract of the courts-martial proceedings.
No. 11516 SGT/Major A. O’Connell, 212nd Field Company, RE
At Guillemont on 24 October 1916, at 2pm the accused was not on parade. I reported him absent to the C.O and did not see the accused again until he was brought back under escort on or about the 29th October 1916.
No cross-examination.
No. 85814 A/Sjt. S. Boalch, 212nd Field Company, RE
On October 29th 1916, on the 2pm parade the accused was absent. I reported this to the Sergeant Major.
No cross-examination.
No. 441 L/Cpl. E. Thomas, M.F. Police
At Harve docks on the 26 October 1916, about 11.15pm I was on duty at No. 1 gate, Gare Maritime, when I saw the accused loitering in the vicinity. I questioned him. He told me he was absent from his unit. I arrested him and conducted him to the patrol guard detention room. The accused seemed to have lost his memory. He was sober. He did not appear to know what he was talking about.
No cross-examination.
No. P1328 Colour Sergeant W. Rashbrook, M.F. Police
At Harve on 27 October 1916, at about 8am I was on duty on Le Harve Docks where I saw the accused now before the court, in custody. I asked him to give me particulars of his name, number, unit. He gave me the following: No. 140320 Sapper Beary of the 90th Coy., RE. I asked him where he came from and he said “I came to France in September about the 9th and landed at Le Harve. I broke away from the draft just out from England while at No. 5 Rest Camp. I mixed myself with a party to go to “Blighty””. The accused was very strange in his manner.
No cross-examination.
The accused states on oath
At Harve Docks in October I fell off a Motor Ambulance and was taken to the guard room by a Corporal. That is all I remember. I fell on my head.
The Prosecutor:
Was it the same corporal that has given evidence?
The Accused:
I can’t say.
The Prosecutor:
What were you doing on a Motor Ambulance in Harve Docks?
The Accused:
I can’t remember.
No further cross-examination.
Evidence as to character:
Captain H.T. Morshead, 212nd Field Coy., RE produces the accused’s A.F. B.122 (Company Conduct Sheet).
- Character.
From a fighting point of view this man is worthless – nor has he any trade aptitude or qualification fitting him for service in an R.E Coy. His regimental and company conduct sheets shows his behaviour to have been habitually bad. Pioneer Beeby joined 212nd Field Company on 31 August 1916 at the commencement of a spell of Divisional rest, and has hardly been in action. He was sick during a considerable portion of the time the company was in the Third Army area, and he disappeared on the day his section was due to go into the line on arrival in Fourth Army front.
- State of Discipline of unit concerned.
The company is practically entirely free from crime and discipline is good
I am of the opinion that the crime was deliberately committed with the sole object of avoiding the particular service involved – viz. a tour of duty in the line.
17/11/16 Sd/ H.T. Morshead, Capt. RE. O/C 212 Field Company.
EXTRACTS FROM BEEBY’S CONDUCT SHEET
Attested at Kidderminster 31 March 1915. Age 23 years and 5 months.
Place of birth: Birmingham.
| DATE | OFFENCE | PUNISHMENT |
| 18/05/15 | Absent 1 hour | 3 days CB |
| 25/05/15 | Absent 10 minutes | |
| Attempt to escape escort | 7 days CB | |
| 28/05/15 | Absent 40 minutes | Fine 5 days pay |
| 30/06/15 | Unshaved | 2 days CB |
| 03/07/15 | Disobedience | |
| Obscene language | 7 days CB | |
| 04/07/15 | Absent 4 hours | 2 days CB |
| 14/07/15 | Smoking on night operations | |
| Obscene language | 2 days CB | |
| 17/07/15 | Absent 50 minutes | 7 days CB |
| 21/07/15 | Absent 3 hours | |
| Breaking out of barracks | 14 days CB | |
| 26/07/15 | Absent 1 hour | |
| 27/07/15 | Absent 1.75 hours | 96 hours detention |
| 26/08/15 | Absent 7 days 1 hour | 8 days CB & fine 4 days pay |
| 02/09/15 | Breaking out of barracks | |
| Insolence to NCO | 2 days CB | |
| 27/10/15 | Threatening language | |
| Refusing to work | 7 days CB | |
| 31/10/15 | Absent 17 hours 50 mins | Fined 5 days pay |
| 01/11/15 | Absent 3 hours | 2 days CB |
| 05/11/15 | Threatening language | |
| Attempt to escape custody | 84 days hard labour | |
| 02/02/16 | Absent 12 hours 20 mins | 1 days CB |
| 04/04/16 | Absent 12 hours | Fined 2 days pay |
| 03/05/16 | Disobedience | |
| Dirty Rifle | Fined 2 days pay | |
| 09/05/16 | Breaking out of camp | |
| Absent 11 hours | 5 days CB | |
| 09/05/16 | Breaking out of camp | |
| Absent 11 hours | 5 days CB | |
| 11/05/16 | Improperly dressed | |
| Disobedience | 14 days CB | |
| 13/05/16 | Absent | 21 days detention |
| 10/06/16 | Desertion | 2 years detention |
| 07/08/16 | Released from detention | |
| 31/08/16 | Joined 212nd Field Coy RE | |
| 07/09/16 | Entering Estaminet while under arrest | |
| Insolence | 28 days Field Punishment No. 1 | |
| 24/10/16 | Deserted |
The court found Beeby guilty of desertion and sentence him to death by shooting.
The sentence was confirmed, and carried out at Albert on 9 December 1916 at 06:27 hours. The death was witnessed as instantaneous.
Ernest Beeby is buried in Albert Communal Cemetery Extension in Plot 1, Row R, Grave 43.