Frederick Beard was born in Manchester on April 6, 1890. His father, James Hogg Beard, was a Chemist and Druggist (a pharmacist). Frederick was the youngest of 3 boys and he also had a younger sister, Lucy. His father, James Hogg Beard, died in 1910 and by 1911 he was living in Marple with his mother, Jessie Ellen Beard (ne Wraight), his brother Edward, his sister Lucy his aunt and a domestic servant. He was employed as a foreign correspondent for a metal and hardware merchant.
He was commissioned from the 6th Manchesters as a Second Lieutenant in the 9th Battalion Manchester Regiment (Territorial Force) on March 11, 1915. He joined the 2/9th Battalion in training at Southport and moved with them to Pease Pottage in June 1915. On October 13, 1915 he embarked on His Majesty’s Transport Ship Scotian at Devonport for Gallipoli with 10 other Officers, arriving at Mudros on October 24th and joined the Battalion on Cape Helles on October 26, 1915.
He survived Gallipoli unscathed and sailed with the Battalion to Egypt, arriving on January 18, 1916. On October 4, 1916 he was awarded 45 days home leave in the UK returning to Egypt in November. He sailed with the Battalion to France, arriving on March 11, 1917.
He was promoted to Lieutenant on July 1, 1917 and on July 29th left for 16 days home leave in the UK where he married Isabel May Ferguson. Upon his return he was immediately attached to the 126th Infantry Brigade and on September 13, 1917 left for the UK and was struck off the strength of the Battalion. He was forced to resign his commission on June 22, 1918 on account of ill-health contracted on active service, but retained the honorary rank of Lieutenant.
After the war, he lived in Marple with his wife and became a company director. In 1920 they had a son, John Knowler Beard. He retired and moved to Buxton but his wife died in 1955 and sometime later he moved to Chipping Campden where he died on July 24, 1982. Lieutenant Frederick Beard was 92 years old.