Name
William Beck
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
20/09/1917
30
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
385043
London Regiment *1
2nd/8th (City of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 54.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, St Michael and All Angels Church Memorial, Watford, John Dickinson & Co Memorial, Apsley Mills, Apsley, Not on the Abbots Langley memorials
Pre War
Son of Frederick and Barbara (nee FINDLAY) BECK; husband of Cissie/Cissy (nee HUGHES) BECK.
His parents married 24 April 1869 at St John the Evangelist, Boxmoor, Herts. Barbara died 1919 in Watford aged 72, and was buried 31 March at St Paul’s, Langleybury, Herts; Frederick died 1939 in Watford aged 89, and was buried 7 February, also at St Paul’s, Langleybury.
William was born 28 February 1887 in Abbot’s Langley, Herts, and baptised 10 May 1887 at St Mary’s, Apsley, Herts. He married 6 September 1913 at St Michael’s, Watford; they had one child. He resided in Watford, and was employed by John Dickinson & Co at their Apsley Mills. Cissie never remarried, and died 15 July 1969 in the Watford district aged 81.
On the 1891 Census, a scholar aged 4 he lived in Abbot’s Langley, with his parents and six siblings. On the 1901 Census, a clerk at a paper mill aged 14, he lived in King’s Langley, Herts, with his parents and four siblings. On the 1911 Census, still a clerk at a paper mill aged 24, he lived in Watford, with his parents and one sibling.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Watford, and was formerly 555316 16th (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment (Queen’s Westminster Rifles).
He was entitled to the Victory and British War medals, and was killed in action.
Additional Information
Unfortunately, William’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing. There is a brief article about and a Death announcement for William in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 13 October 1917.
*1 More correctly (City of London) Bn. London Regiment (Post Office Rifles).
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
