Basil Beal was born in Fulham, London on 16 January 1888, the son of Edward A Beal and Jane A Beal. He joined the Royal Navy in May 1904 and, after time in HMS LONDON and HMS MINOTAUR, joined submarines in January 1910.

He was promoted Lieutenant in April 1910. In August 1912, he was appointed to command HMS A5 and, in December, to HMS B1. This was followed, in January 1915, by command of HMS W2. Beal next took command of HMS E49, in November 1916.

On 12 March 1917, E49 left the Shetlands for patrol. As the submarine was clearing the Balta Sound, she hit a mine, which had been laid by the German submarine UC76 on 10 March 1917. E49 sank with all crew off Huney Island.

Basil Beal (of 39, Melrose Avenue, Cricklewood) was the husband of Lucy Eveline Beal (formerly an actress). He is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial on Panel 24 and on the HMS E49 Memorial at Balta Sound, Unst, Shetland Islands.