#Edward James Beerman

Edward was born in Georgetown on November 21 1897 (although on his enlistment papers he reported his date of birth to be Nov 22, 1896), the son of John Beerman and Mary Jane Greer. He was one of nine siblings, growing up in Georgetown and attending Georgetown Public and Glen Williams schools.

Edward enlisted with the 76th Overseas Battalion on November 24 1915, and was later transferred to the 1st Battalion. Edward served 9 months in Canada, arriving in England in 1916, where he was stationed for 1 year, later serving 9 months in France. According to the Medical History Sheet contained in his military file, Edward was hit by shrapnel at Vimy Ridge on April 10, 1917 causing a compound fracture of his right humerus and resulting sepsis. Edward stated “ that after being hit, his arm was useless and swung around in any direction and in two or three days his arm was swollen to the elbow”. He was initially operated on at a hospital on the French coast and had three further operations in England and was later invalided to Canada in February of 1918 , where he underwent a further surgery. On September 2, 1918 he was discharged as “physically unfit” and was to receive further treatment at a military convalescent hospital.

The 1921 Census shows him boarding with his sister Mrs. Norton in Glen Williams, and working as a labourer in a papermill earning $800 per year. The 1931 Census shows him living in Erin with his wife Gladys Harding whom he married in 1923, his daughters Grace (7) and Audrey (2) and his son Kenneth ( 5). At that time he listed his occupation as farmer and was earning $408 per year. From 1932 to 1941, he was a resident of Limehouse and from 1941 until the time of his death, he lived in Georgetown. The 1957 Canada Voters List will show him at 16 George St.

Edward worked as a fireman in the lower papermill in Georgetown, farmed at Ballinafad and was a stone quarryman at Limehouse and until his retirement was employed by the Town of Georgetown. He was a member of Branch 120 Royal Canadian Legion and he enjoyed fishing and carpentry.

Edward died on October 29,1973 and is buried at Greenwood Cemetery, Georgetown.

Truly a Canadian Hero. His story lives on. Information taken from Ancestry.ca, Findagrave.com, The Georgetown Herald.

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