Personal info

  • Name: Harry Churchill BEET
  • D.O.B: 1st Apr, 1873
  • D.O.A: 22nd Apr, 1900
  • D.O.D: 10th Jan, 1946
  • Award: Victoria Cross
  • Occupation at time of action: Lance Corporal, 11th Mounted Infantry Regiment, Imperial Yeomanry
  • Book: The Complete History - Volume 1
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Sources & Acknowledgements

Wakkerstroom, Orange Free State, South Africa 22 April 1900

22 April 1900

More details about:
The Second Boer War 1899 - 1902 

On 22 April 1900, 1st Battalion Derbyshire Regiment was attacked by a Boer Commando near Wakkerstroom, Orange Free State (see W H S Nickerson VC above). Corporal H C Beet assisted the injured Corporal B Burnett, who had been left behind during the withdrawal. During the day he kept the Boers at bay, then, under cover of darkness, carried Burnett to a nearby farm, where a medical officer attended him. Beet and the Medical Officer then returned to their own lines but the next day Beet, assisted by Sergeant Geissle, went back to the farmhouse, and, on an old perambulator they found there, wheeled Burnett safely back to the British lines.

Citation

 At Wakkerstroom, on the 22nd April, 1900, No. 2 Mounted Infantry Company, 1st Battalion Derbyshire Regiment, with two squadrons, Imperial Yeomanry, had to retire from near a farm, under a ridge held by Boers. Corporal Burnett, Imperial Yeomanry, was left on the ground wounded, and Corporal Beet, on seeing him, remained behind and placed him under cover, bound up his wounds,and by firing prevented the Boers from coming down to the farm till dark, when Doctor Wilson, Imperial Yeomanry, came to the wounded man’s assistance. The retirement was carried out undera very heavy fire,and Corporal Beet was exposed to fire during the whole afternoon 

(The London Gazette of 12 February 1901, Numb. 27283, p. 1059)

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