Tags
Albert Beach, Egypt, mayors, medal cards, New Cross Hospital, Royal Army Medical Corps, Salvation Army, The National Archives, volunteers, Wolverhampton Council
Although not originally local to the area, Albert Abraham Beach settled here after the war and went on to become Mayor of Wolverhampton.
Albert Beach was born in 1886 in Yorkley, Gloucestershire, the son of James and Alice Beach (formerly Adams). According to the 1911 census he was involved in colliery stonework, and he moved to South Wales at the age of 17. He became interested in the Salvation Army, eventually training as a officer. As an officer he moved to the East End of London and later to Northumberland. He married Hilda Evelyn Ripley in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1908, and they had two sons, James Albert and Claude Ripley.
Albert Beach served in the Royal Army Medical Corps, Regiment Number 60325, first serving in Egypt from August 1915 onwards. His medal card is available to view at the National Archives.
He was first elected to Wolverhampton Council in 1921. He held the office of Mayor in 1940 and upon retiring in 1941, he became a magistrate. On 27 June 1962 Beach died at the age of 76 in New Cross Hospital, leaving a probate amounting to £1997.
The research for this blog has been completed by volunteer Gladys Roberts.