Private William Bees VC


Private Bees of the 1st Battalion Derbyshires was on a Maxim gun detachment in the South African War, at Moedwil on 30th September 1901. There were 9 of them and they came under heavy fire which caused six casualties. The wounded men were desperate for water and Bees ran to a stream to fetch some. He came under sustained firing from the enemy and passed within 100 yards of rocks where Boers were concealed. For this action he received the VC.

William Bees was born in Loughborough in Leicestershire on 12th September 1872. And died at Coalville in the same county on 20th June 1938. He reached the rank of Corporal before his discharge.


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