11445 L/Cpl William Henry Beel, 1918-15/8/1947. "A patient sufferer"

William Beel was called up for war service in February, 1940, and joined 20 Battalion.  He was posted missing in December 1941 and as a PoW the following February.

He was sent to a PoW camp at Monteurano, near the Adriatic Sea, a series of large buildingd that had been built for the wine-making industry. Food was short and most prisoners relied on Red Cross parcels for a decent diet.

Eventually, in 1943, the Italian prison guards disappeared - Italy had surrendered and the prisoners made use of their freedom by foraging for food in the nearby countryside.  Prisoners were content to wait for the advancing British Army but, one day, awoke to find themselves guarded by Germans.  Prisoners were sent by rail, packed into cattle cars, to Germany.

William found himself at Stalag 4G, a PoW labour camp near Dresden. His name appears on a long list of liberated prisoners published in May, 1945. He was safe and in the UK.  Details of his time in Italy are taken from the following:

'WW2 People's War is an online archive of wartime memories contributed by members of the public and gathered by the BBC. The archive can be found at bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar'

FOUR SOLDIER BROTHERS.

The four sons of Mr and Mrs J. V Beel, 3 Dryden street, Northeast Valley, who have served overseas with the New Zealand Division. Upper: Private Thomas Beel and Corporal William Henry Beel were taken prisoner in Libya, and (lower left) Private Charles Sidney Beel was captured in Greece. All three have since been liberated, and are safe in England. Staff-sergeant James Percival Beel, who also served in the Middle East, recently underwent an operation, and is expected back in New Zealand shortly.  -Evening Star, 15/6/1945.

BEEL. — On August 15, 1947, at Dunedin, 11445, Corporal William Henry Beel (late 20th Battalion, 2nd N.Z.E.F.), very dearly loved husband of Myrtle Ann Peel (nee Heenan), 40 Douglas Terrace, North-east Valley, and loved father of the late wee Billie. “With Christ, which is far better.” — The Funeral will leave our Chapel, 326 George street, To-morrow (Saturday), the 16th inst., at the conclusion of a Service, commencing at 11 a.m., for the Anderson’s Bay Cemetery. — R. McLean and Son, funeral directors.   -Evening Star, 15/8/1947.

Corporal William Henry Beel, who died in the Dunedin Public Hospital to-day, was one of five sons of Mr and Mrs J. V. Beel, of Dryden street, Normanby, three of whom were prisoners of war. He was a well-known Maniototo footballer before the war. All of the brothers returned to New Zealand at the end of hostilities, but his death was the consequence of war injuries.  -Evening Star, 15/8/1947.

BEEL. — On August 15, 1947, at Dunedin, 11445 Corporal William Henry Beel (late of 20th Battalion, 2nd, N.Z.E.F.), very dearly loved husband of Myrtle Ann Beel, 40 Douglas terrace, North-East Valley, loved father of the late wee Billie, and third son of Mr and Mrs J. V. Beel. 3 Dryden street, North-East Valley. A patient sufferer at rest.”— Interred at Anderson’s Bay Cemetery.  -Otago Daily Times, 18/8/1947.

The many friends of Mrs Peel {nee Miss Myrtle Heenan) will learn with extreme regret that her husband died at Dunedin last week. Mr Beel was a returned soldier and was a p.o.w, for some considerable time.  -Dunstan Times, 18/8/1947.

I have been unable to discover the nature of the wound which eventually killed William Beel. Myrtle, his wife, was from Clyde, and had already experienced disappointment as a result of the war. The death of William, so soon after that of their "wee Billie" must have been a heavy blow.

Personal

Private advice has been received in Clyde of the death in the Middle East, through sickness, of Private Les. Christie. This sad news has caused sorrow co many and sympathy is extended to his widow (nee Miss Myrtle Heenan) of Clyde.  -Dunstan Times, 3/11/1941.

Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.