100 days of heroes: Tasmanian soldier Norman Beard predicted his own death in a letter from the front

NORMAN Beard predicted his own death in a letter home, three months before he was killed in action in France in Tasmania’s worst year in World War I.

World War I soldier Norman Eric Beard. Picture: AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL

FARM labourer Norman Beard predicted his own demise in a letter to a family friend three months before he was killed in action in France in Tasmania’s worst year in World War I.

Born at Apsley in the southern midlands in 1893, Norman was a very young-looking 22-year-old when he joined the 12th Battalion at Claremont in September 1915.

The son of James and Helen Beard, he was a farmhand prior to joining up. He had tried to enlist once before but was found medically unfit at the time.

He was given a farewell in the Jericho Hall along with another local, Tom Burbury, and embarked in January 1916.

DAY 6: PRIVATE ERNEST WOOLLEY

After training in Egypt Norman proceeded to France where he would spend the next year.

In January 1917 he sent a letter home to Mrs Burbury, thanking for a Christmas card. He wrote that he had not seen Tom but there was a good chance they would meet in the dugouts.

“Well I wonder how much longer the war will last, Mrs Burbury. If it goes through this summer it will be very fierce over here, there will be a lot of us have to stay in France and push up flowers I guess.”

The letter from Private Norman Beard’s mother, seeking his personal effects. Picture: AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL

Three months later he was killed in action at Boursies, France, between April 6-10, 1917. He has no known grave but is commemorated on the Villers Bretonneux Memorial at the Somme.

Norman was one of more than 1000 Tasmanians to lose their lives in the service of king and empire in 1917, making it Tasmania’s worst year of the war.

His widowed mother, of Regent St in Sandy Bay, organised for a tree to be planted (number 215) on the Soldiers’ Memorial Avenue in Hobart.

In February 1918, after receiving her son’s personal effects including a wallet, photo and postcards, Mrs Beard wrote back to the army asking about his watch, diary, and identification disk.

Another parcel received in December 1919 contained more of his personal effects but there was no record of the items his mother was seeking.

Private Norman Eric Beard is also remembered on the Memorial Avenue at Jericho and on monuments at Melton Mowbray, Kempton and in the Hobart Town Hall.

World War I soldier Norman Beard’s plaque on the Soldiers' Memorial Avenue in Hobart.