Lieutenant Frederick William Bell (1875-1954, 79yo)
BRAKPAN 16 May 1901
Frederick Bell was born in Perth on 3 April 1875 and holds the distinction of being the first Western Australian-born individual to receive the Victoria Cross. He served as a volunteer in the Second Boer War from 1899 to 1902, where he was a member of the 6th West Australian Mounted Infantry, part of the Australian Forces.
At the age of 26, Bell performed a remarkable act of courage that led to his being awarded the Victoria Cross. While under intense enemy fire, he noticed a fellow trooper who had become dismounted and was retreating under pressure. Bell rode to assist, taking the man onto his own horse. However, the combined weight caused the horse to collapse. Undeterred, Bell instructed the trooper to escape on foot and stayed behind to hold off the Boer attackers, firing at them to cover his comrade's retreat.
Following the Boer War, Bell spent time living in parts of Africa and went on to serve with the British Army during the First World War, eventually attaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He later settled in the United Kingdom, where he passed away in 1954. He was laid to rest in Cranford Cemetery, Bristol.
Bell's medals, including the Victoria Cross, were acquired by the Government of Western Australia and are now proudly displayed in the Western Australian Museum.
Private Robert Matthew Beatham (1894-1918, 24yo)
ROSIERE, France 09 August 1918
Robert Beatham was born in the United Kingdom in 1894 and migrated to Australia as a teenager. He later enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in 1915 and was assigned to the 8th Australian Infantry Battalion. Serving on the Western Front in France, he sustained injuries on two separate occasions.
At the age of 24, Beatham took part in the intense fighting at Rosieres, located east of Villers-Bretonneux. The engagement proved to be extremely costly for his unit. During the battle, when their advance was stalled by enemy machine-gun positions, Beatham and a fellow soldier launched a daring assault. They bombed four machine-gun posts, killing 10 enemy soldiers and capturing another 10.
Despite being wounded, Beatham pressed on when his battalion reached its final objective. He charged yet another enemy position but was fatally struck by machine-gun fire during the assault.
His actions were recognised for their exceptional courage, with his citation noting his "most conspicuous bravery and self-sacrifice."
Imagery and text sourced from the Australian War Memorial.
Last Reviewed 05/2025
