Frederick Ernest Beer – 1st South African Infantry
Private Frederick Ernest Beer – 1st South African Infantry
Birth and Family Background
Charles Frederick Beer and Alice Mary Thomas
marriage certificate
St. Mary's Church, Swansea
Frederick Ernest Beer was born in 1880 in Swansea.
He was the son of Charles Frederick Beer and Alice Mary Thomas,
who were married in 1877 at St. Mary’s Church, Swansea.
Early Life
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| 1881 Census |
At the time of the 1881 Census, the Beer family were living at 65 St Helens Road, Swansea. Charles Frederick Beer (26) was a fruiterer merchant, while Alice Mary (21) managed the household. Their children were Beatrice Alice (3), Frederick Ernest (1), and Albert Henry (6 months). A servant, Ann Rees (21), was also present.
 |
| 1891 Census |
By the 1891 Census, the family had moved to 9 Carlton Terrace, Swansea. Charles Frederick Beer (36) was then working as a fruit and potato merchant. His wife Alice does not appear in the return. The children recorded were Beatrice Alice (13), Frederick Ernest (11), Albert Henry (10), Mary Charlotte (7), and Mabel (6), all attending school. The household also included a governess, Lily Harrington (23), and a servant, Annie Sweeney (19).
Emigration to South Africa
In 1895, the Beer family emigrated to Cape Town,
South Africa, where Frederick spent his later youth and adult life.
Marriage
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| Ernest Beer and Eliza Jane Despery marriage certificate Johannesburg, South Africa |
Military Service
Frederick served as a Private with the 1st
South African Infantry. The regiment served with distinction during the
war, including overseas service in East Africa, Egypt, and Europe, and
remained active into the post-war period.
The 1st South African Infantry — Post-War Service, 1919
Following the Armistice of November 1918, the 1st
South African Infantry entered a prolonged post-war phase marked by demobilisation,
reorganisation, and garrison duties as South Africa transitioned from
wartime mobilisation to peacetime normality.
Many soldiers who survived active service later succumbed
to illness, war-related injuries, or complications in the months following the
Armistice. The years 1919–1920 were marked by significant
mortality due to influenza, tuberculosis, and lingering physical
exhaustion, conditions exacerbated by wartime hardship and limited
medical treatment.
Deaths recorded in October 1919, such as that of Frederick
Ernest Beer, reflect this often-overlooked post-war phase, when
military service continued to carry risks even after the guns had fallen
silent. These losses underscore the reality that the human cost of the war
extended well beyond the Armistice, affecting soldiers long after combat
operations had ceased.
The experience of the 1st South African
Infantry in late 1919 stands as a reminder that victory did not
immediately bring safety or recovery for all who served, and that the legacy of
the war was measured not only in battles fought, but also in the long
struggle to survive its aftermath.
Death and Burial
Frederick Ernest Beer died on 2nd October 1919.
He is buried at Stellawood Cemetery, Durban.
His life reflects a journey from Victorian Swansea to
southern Africa, where he settled, married, served in uniform, and was
laid to rest—one of many whose lives were shaped, and ultimately shortened, by
the enduring consequences of the First World War
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