On 22 April 1900, while serving in the British Army during the Boer War, Corporal Beet was engaged in combat near Wakkerstroom, South Africa.
Corporal Beet went back, dragged a severally wounded comrade to cover, tended to his wounds and protected him until darkness fell and they were rescued.
For his actions, Corporal Beet was promoted to Sergeant and awarded the Victoria Cross.
In 1906, he and his wife emigrated to Canada settling in the Glaslyn, Saskatchewan area.
At Wakkerstroom, on the 22nd April, 1900, No. 2 Mounted Infantry Company, 1st Battalion Derbyshire Regiment, with two squadrons, Imperial Yeomanry, had to retire from near a farm, under a ridge held by Boers. Corporal Burnett, Imperial Yeomanry, was left on the ground wounded, and Corporal Beet, on seeing him, remained behind and placed him under cover, bound up his wounds, and by firing prevented the Boers from coming down to the farm till dark, when Doctor Wilson, Imperial Yeomanry, came to the wounded man’s assistance. The retirement was carried out under a very heavy fire, and Corporal Beet was exposed to fire during the whole afternoon.
The London Gazette of 12 February 1901, Numb. 27283, p. 1059