Bramwell Beardall came to Canada In 1912 and settled in Chatham in 1926 upon the beginning of his legal career. At the outbreak of the Second World War, he enlisted in the Kent Regt. and eventually obtained the rank of Major.     

Major Beardall left Chatham for the west coast on the 29^th of March.  The wives of Lieut. Coltart and Lieut. Angus would also be leaving to rejoin their his bands in British Columbia. CDN 28/03/42

In March of 1942, Major Beardall was the commanding officer of ‘C’ – Company of the Kent Regt., and had been sent to England to train with British Commandos. It was reported in the CDN of 28/03/42 that the Major would be in Chatham for a few of weeks furlough before rejoining the Kents, and then on the west coast in BC. In an interview the Major reported that, “if ever Hitler attempted an invasion of Britain, the Canadians would be in the front lines.”

All training was his done “on the double and with full equipment”. This was an advantage for the soldiers. The Major reported that the morale of the troops is high and that they were anxious to get started.

The CDN 30/04/43 reported that Major W. B. Beardall was on leave from the west coast visiting at his home on Wellington St. West in Chatham. The CDN 11/05/43 reported that Major Beardall left Chatham to rejoin his regiment on the west coast. His wife accompanied her husband to Toronto before returning to Chatham.

He returned to Canada and trained recruits in the field, in British Columbia. William was made 2nd in Command of the Kent Regiment from April 1944 until time of discharge.

Discharged Mary 29th, 1945.

Regarding his legal career:

“The last man to be executed in Chatham was Francis Van Develd, who had been convicted of the axe murder of Dover Township farmer Joe Kamoen. His defence council, Bram Beardall, argued both at trial and appeal that Van Develd could not have committed the murder as the body was found in a manure-pile which had previously been searched by the Police.” It was to no avail that Van Develd went to the gallows as scheduled and the 22nd of December, 1930. This was 70 years to the day after Pah Mah Gay.  

At the of the war he returned to his legal practice and was appointed to the bench in 1961.

Bramwell Beardall passed away 19 September, 1986.

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Sources

IODE(P), CCI-RH, CDN(5),  J. Rhodes CTW

Birthplace	South Shields, England
Religion	Baptist
Marital Status	Married
When Enlisted	July 25th, 1940
Next of Kin	Wife- Mrs. Margaret B. Beardall

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