{"product_id":"royal-artillery-ww2-british-medal-group-territorial-efficiency-isle-of-wight","title":"Royal Artillery WW2 British Medal Group Territorial Efficiency Isle of Wight","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eSecond World War Medal Group – Gunner Absalom Edward William Beeney\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eDefence Medal – \u003ci\u003eunnamed as issued\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eWar Medal – \u003ci\u003eunnamed as issued\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eTerritorial Efficiency Medal – \u003cb\u003e1430693 GNR W BEENEY RA\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eAbsalom Edward William Beeney\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e (usually just went by “William Beeney”) was born on \u003cb\u003e3rd March 1920 at St Helens, Isle of Wight, Hampshire\u003c\/b\u003e, the son of \u003cb\u003eAbsalom George Beeney (1898–1960)\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003eMary Sophia Beeney (née Hunt) (1894–1971)\u003c\/b\u003e. At the time of the \u003cb\u003e1921 Census\u003c\/b\u003e he was living with his parents at \u003cb\u003eAlma Cottage, Putt Street, St Helens\u003c\/b\u003e, where his father was employed locally and the family were long established in the area.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eHe later enlisted for service in the \u003cb\u003eTerritorial Army\u003c\/b\u003e, joining the \u003cb\u003eRoyal Artillery on 20th May 1938\u003c\/b\u003e, receiving the service number \u003cb\u003e1430693\u003c\/b\u003e. His enlistment came during the period of rapid expansion of the Territorial Army as tensions in Europe increased in the late 1930s. As a Territorial soldier he would have undertaken regular annual training and weekend drills prior to the outbreak of the Second World War.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eWith the outbreak of war in September 1939, Territorial Army units of the Royal Artillery were mobilised for full-time service and formed a crucial part of Britain’s anti-aircraft and field artillery defences throughout the war. Beeney served throughout the conflict with the \u003cb\u003eRoyal Artillery\u003c\/b\u003e, remaining in service until the later stages of the war.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eHis service record shows that he was \u003cb\u003edischarged on 18th May 1946\u003c\/b\u003e, after the end of hostilities in Europe. For his wartime service he was entitled to the \u003cb\u003eDefence Medal\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003eWar Medal 1939–45\u003c\/b\u003e, reflecting full-time military service during the Second World War.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eIn addition, his long service in the Territorial Army was recognised with the award of the \u003cb\u003eTerritorial Efficiency Medal\u003c\/b\u003e, granted for \u003cb\u003etwelve years efficient service in the Territorial Army\u003c\/b\u003e, with wartime service counting at an accelerated rate towards qualification.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eFollowing the war he returned to civilian life and remained associated with the Hampshire area. \u003cb\u003eAbsalom Edward William Beeney died in April 1990 in South East Hampshire\u003c\/b\u003e, aged \u003cb\u003e70 years\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eA solid example of a \u003cb\u003epre-war Territorial Army soldier who enlisted before the outbreak of the Second World War and served throughout the conflict with the Royal Artillery\u003c\/b\u003e, later qualifying for the \u003cb\u003eTerritorial Efficiency Medal for long and efficient service.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003ePLEASE NOTE: All research will be sent to the buyer via email. I am unable to provide printed copies, as I do not have access to a printer.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eVisit my website for better prices on most of my stock.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eAJMS Medals\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AJMS Medals","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53868358238554,"sku":null,"price":75.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0958\/9850\/1466\/files\/20260305_102008.png?v=1774261568","url":"https:\/\/ajms-medals.com\/products\/royal-artillery-ww2-british-medal-group-territorial-efficiency-isle-of-wight","provider":"AJMS Medals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}