The Beechey Boys Letters
The Beechey boys were eight Lincolnshire brothers who fought in the Great War – of the eight only three came home.
There is only one other known family who lost five sons in the war; they were from the Souls family, from Great Rissington in Gloucestershire.
These letters have been donated by Joey (Josephine) Warren. Joey is the daughter of Edie who was the younger sister of the boys. The story of the Souls family reminded Joey of her mother’s recollections and of the letters that her uncles had written home to their mother Amy in Lincoln.
The family had lived in Friesthorpe with Snarford, Lincolnshire where the family’s father, The Reverend Prince William Thomas Beechey, had been Rector. The family moved to Lincoln when he was taken ill with cancer, they lived in a two-up, two-down terrace in Avondale Street, Lincoln.
“It was no sacrifice, Ma’am,” she told Queen Mary. “I did not give them willingly.”
Amy Beechey
In April 1918, Amy Beechey was presented to King George V and honored by the King and Queen for her immense sacrifice - but despite her great pride in her sons, she was a reluctant heroine.
It was no sacrifice, Ma’am,” she told Queen Mary. “I did not give them willingly.
Amy Beechey is buried in Newport Cemetery, Lincoln. In 2008, as a mark of respect, Cooke/Connell Fundraisers (Mr. Joe Cooke MBE and Mr. Frank Connell, Sheriff of the City of Lincoln) had her grave cleaned and her headstone renovated.
Barnard Reeve Beechey
Barnard Reeve Beechey was born on the 26th April 1877 at Pinchbeck, Lincolnshire.
Charles Reeve Beechey
Charles Reeve Beechey was born on the 27th April 1878 at Pinchbeck, Lincolnshire.
Frank Collett Reeve Beechey
Frank was born on the12th October 1886.
Harold Reeve Beechey
Harold was born on the 22nd March 1891 at Friesthorpe Rectory, Lincoln.
Leonard Reeve Beechey
Leonard was born on 31st August 1881 at Southwark.
