| Regimental number | 415 |
| Place of birth | Sheffield, England |
| Other Names | Thomas Joseph |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Occupation | Hairdresser |
| Address | Drouin PO, Drouin, Victoria |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 20 |
| Height | 5' 5" |
| Weight | 146 lbs |
| Next of kin | Father, J M Beston, PO, Warragul, Victoria |
| Previous military service | Served for 3 years in the 48th Infantry, Citizen Military Forces. |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Rank on enlistment | Lance Corporal |
| Unit name | 14th Battalion, D Company |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A38 Ulysses on |
| Regimental number from Nominal Roll | 2334 |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 59th Battalion |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Date of death | |
| Place of burial | No known grave |
| Commemoration details | V.C. Corner (Panel No 15), Australian Cemetery , Fromelles, France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 167 |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front Admitted to 5th Field Ambulance, Rest Gully, Anzac, 12 October 1915; transferred to No 1 Australian Casualty Clearing Station, 20 October 1915 (diarrhoea), and transferred to Hospital Ship; admitted to St Patrick's hospital, Malta, 27 October 1915 (debility); transferred to All Saints' Hospital, 24 November 1915; discharged from hospital in Malta, 7 December 1915, and embarked for Egypt fit for Active Service. Admitted to No 2 Australian General Hospital, Abbassia, 13 January 1916 (venereal disease: gonorrhoea), and admitted to Detention Barracks; discharged to duty, 16 March 1916; total period of treatment for venereal disease: 64 days, Taken on strength, 59th Bn, Ferry Post, 3 April 1916. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 18 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916. Reported missing, 19 July 1916. Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 29 August 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 17 July 1916'. Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, BESTON Thomas James |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
