WILLIAM RICHARD BEARD
1891-1973
William was born in Widecombe in August 1891 to James Beard and Eliza French. He had three sisters (Evelyn, Hilda and Bessie Ruth) and two brothers (Oliver and James Henry).
William attended Widecombe School between March 1897 and April 1905. During his schooling he lived at Bunhill, Widecombe.
When he left school, William was interested in becoming a baker, and by 1911 was resident with the Harvey family at the Post Office and bakery in Widecombe. His father, James was the local Widecombe postman. During his time at the bakery, William will have known Andrew Harvey (another name featured on the Roll of Honour).
During the Great War, Beard family sources say William was an Artillery spotter for the big guns of the Royal Garrison Artillery. It has not been possible to substantiate William’s service record due to the fact many of the service records of First World War soldiers were destroyed during the “Blitz” in the Second World War.
Upon discharge from the Forces William returned to Devon. In 1920 he moved to Ilfracombe and became a master baker, a trade he had learned in Widecombe from Leonard Harvey before going off to War.
In 1916 William married Pricilla Summerwill. Little information has been found about his subsequent life except that he remained living in North Devon and that he died in Ilfracombe in 1973.
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