March 11, 1916
The Bega Budget
* Towamba, last week, contributed another ten recruits, and they left this week for Sydney. This centre has responded nobly to the Empire's call. Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Beasley have six sons in the ranks.

The information below was kindly given by Pat Raymond, researcher for the Bega Valley Genealogy Society and author of "REMEMBERING BEGA VALLEY SERVICEMEN OF WORLD WAR 1" and Jody White, curator of the Eden Killer Whale Museum.

TOWAMBA WAR MEMORIAL

KILLED
E.J. BEASLEY - Edward John

RETURNED
A.C. BEASLEY - Arthur Charles
A.J. BEASLEY - Alfred James enlisted 11 March 1916 - returned to Australia 10 December 1918 32nd Battalion
B. BEASLEY - Ben 6th Squadron 2nd Remount Unit
H.E.S. BEASLEY
J.H. BEASLEY

ENLISTED
R.G. BEASLEY - Richard George

Pambula Voice - 10 September 1915
* Private Hampden Beasley is home on final leave to say goodbye to his relations and friends. He is looking well and after his six weeks of training, speaks well of his treatment while in camp. His friends are giving him a farewell social in Towamba Hall to-night. As Hampden is the first from Towamba to sail for the front, we wish him luck and hope to see him return safe and sound.

'Pambula Voice' - Friday 15 October, 1915
Towamba
* Still more of our boys are going to the war. On Wednesday night a send off was given to Mr. B. and R. BEASLEY (this makes the fifth BEASLEY who has volunteered). There was a fair attendance considering the short notice. The usual speeches singing, dancing etc. was indulged in till after tea, when all returned to their homes after singing "Auld Lang Syne" and the National Anthem. Messrs. B. and R. BEASLEY left for Sydney by Saturday's boat.

'Bega Standard' - Friday 19 November, 1915
Towamba
* Mr. W. BEASLEY had a letter from his son Ted, who has landed in Egypt, and he expected to be in the firing line by the time the letter reached here.

'Pambula Voice' - Friday 19 November, 1915
Towamba
* Mr. W. BEASLEY received a letter from his son Ted. He has landed at Egypt and expected to be in the firing line by the time the letter reached here. Mr. B. BEASLEY senr. and E. Young of Towamba sailed in the troopship on the 10th for Egypt. A. Smith, W. Young and J. McLeod are expected home shortly on final leave.

'Pambula Voice' - Friday 28 January, 1916
Towamba
* Mr. W. Beasley, received word some time back that his brother Private B. BEASLEY was dangerously ill in Egypt with pleurisy and pneumonia, latest reports were that he was out of danger. It was also reported that E.J. BEASLEY was killed, but it was a mistake in the names, Hampden Beasley is the only one in the firing line from here as yet.

'Twofold Bay Magnet' - Monday 28 February 1916
Messrs A., H. and R. BEASLEY, G. Dickie, T. and C. Laing, C. Roberts, W. McDonald and D. Reid, of Towamba, who have enlisted, were given a send off at Towamba on Friday night last. They leave for camp this week.

'Twofold Bay Magnet' - 17 July, 1916
Soldiers Letters
* Mr. W. Beasley is in receipt of the following letter from one of his sons in France under 26 May 1916. (would be Ted)
ЕЕ..We are in the trenches now but my platoon are in the support trenches, doing fatigue work, that is carrying provisions up to the front line by night. We also do repairing work during the day. As I write you this letter a big artillery duel has been going on for a couple of hours. Our trench mortars and guns have blown a section of the German trenches all shapes. They are giving us a turn now, with high explosives. They are trying to find our guns, which are everywhere behind our trenches. They gave us a lively few minutes the first day we were here. They were landing in among our trenches everywhere. I was on sentry duty at the time and one of them sent mud all over me and a great junk of mud barged me right in the face. Of course my mates had a good laugh. It's no use trying to get away from them; if you do you are more likely to run right into them. There is no doubt the shock of them tries your nerves, and the concussion will knock you down if you are near them. The worst part of it is you can hear them coming, screaming through the air, but you can't see them. You would swear they were coming right down on top of you and they might land a hundred yards away. They go well into the earth and then burst, throwing everything up into the air. The trench mortars are terrible weapons of destruction. They throw a round bomb about the size of a soccer football, and it has a big spindle on it which they put down the muzzle of the mortar. You can see it quite plain from when it leaves the mortar until it lobs. The explosion is awful. They shoot it straight up into the air, and then it turns over and comes down big and first 400 yards are their range. One German was blown away up into the air. The guns open up when they start, as a blind; if they didn't you would be able to observe where they were coming fromЕЕЕ.

'Twofold Bay Magnet' - Monday 19 June, 1916
* Mr. Ben BEASLEY who has been serving with the Remount Corps in Egypt returned to Eden on Saturday morning last.

'Twofold Bay Magnet' - Monday 21 August, 1916
* Word was received last week that Pte E.J. BEASLEY, son of Mr. J.W. Beasley of Towamba, is missing.

'Southern Record & Advertiser' - Saturday, 26 August, 1916
* Private E.J. BEASLEY, of Towamba, is officially reported missing.

'Pambula Voice' - Friday 6 October, 1916
Towamba
* Mr. W.J. BEASLEY had a card from his son Hampden, who was reported to have been wounded in the hand, no particulars stated. But we are pleased to know he is not as bad as had been reported, or he would not be able to write it himself. Mr. Beasley also had a letter from a comrade of his son Ted, who is reported missing. He speaks with great feeling about poor Ted, and gives no hope of ever seeing him again. They went out together and by some means were parted, and he never seen him after. The letter referred to his good comradeship and always willing to help others.

'Twofold Bay Magnet' - Monday 1 January 1917
Towamba
* Return of Pte Hampden BEASLEYЕserved in the Gallipoli campaign and also in France where he sustained wounds that have led to the loss of one hand.

'The Queenslander' - 4 August, 1917
The Roll of Honour.
Australian Casualties
* Edward John BEASLEY, Towamba, N.S.W.

'Bega Standard' - Friday, 30 May, 1919
More Heroes Return
* On Tuesday the Mayor met Gunner Beasley who was returning to Towamba and took him in to the reception of the Children's Patriotic League. Gunner BEASLEY was only 17.1/2 years when he enlisted. He has been over four years on the other side and the Mayor remarked that he did not look more than 17.1/2 now. He was the only one of five brothers to return safe and sound. Three were invalided home and one was killed in action.


Harry Beasley Jean McPaul Collection, Eden Killer Whale Museum	Henry (Harry) Beasley Photo courtesy L. Parker

.Post card from Harry Beasley after seeing his brother Arthur. France March 26, 1917 Courtesy R. Dickie

Message on back of post card from Harry Beasley (above)

Post card from Harry Beasley. France February 24, 1918 Courtesy R. Dickie

Message on back of post card from Harry Beasley (above).

Harry Beasley

Alfred James Beasley Jean McPaul collection, Eden Killer whale Museum	Alfred James Beasley Courtesy L. Parker

"Identified on rear of photo as Harry Beasley by Evelyn Maxwell, wife of Keith Parker born Towamba 1895" Courtesy L. Parker	Keith Parker Courtesy L. Parker
Ted Beasley Author of the Towamba War Letters	Arthur Beasley Youngest of the family and also the smallest. He put his age up for the First World War and put it down for the Second World War. He told us it was supposed to be a trip to see the world but it was not to be repeated or talked about. Photo courtesy R. Dickie

Hampden Beasley	WW11. Ted Beasley (not writer of war letters, different branch of Beasley family) Jean McPaul Collection, eden Killer Whale Museum


Three (Beasley?) Brothers (No names or date) Part of message written on back of photo: " Dear Arthur, Just a few lines to let you no that I am still amongst the living. Lots of love, Alf"	George Dickie (left) with Alf and Harry Beasley

Edward Marshall Beasley with his cousin Gloria Grant (nee Beasley) courtesy G. Anderson