C.S.M 15156 Frederick Preston Beckett

• Age: 34
• From: Manchester
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• D.O.W Thursday 19th October 1916
• Commemorated at: Dernancourt Cc Ext
  Panel Ref: III.H.14

Frederick Preston Beckett was born on the 4th August 1882 in Manchester, the son of John Henry Beckett and his wife Nancy (née Nield) who were married in 1871 at Pennington Christ Church, Wigan. He was baptised with his brother Walter Edward on the 15th February, 1883 at Manchester Cathedral.

He was educated at Manchester Grammar School between 1899 and 1900.

His mother died, aged 49, in 1895 and was buried on the 18th February at Manchester Southern Cemetery. 

The 1901 Census finds Frederick living as a lodger at 70 Potts Street, Manchester. The property appears to be a lodging house as there are 17 people in the property. Frederick is recorded as having been born in Stockport, he is shown as an 18 year old grocer (shopman).

His father remarried to Hannah Colton on the 22nd April 1896 at St James, Birkdale. John was a widowed 49 year old bank official of Chorlton-cum-Hardy, father John, whilst Nancy was aged 31 of Birkdale, father Charles an agent.

The Southport Visiter reported Fred's bowling feat on Tuesday 24 July 1906:

Another Smart Bowling Performance.

A week last Saturday W. Beckett of the Southport and Birkdale Cricket Club, captured six West Derby wickets for 19 runs. Against Neston and District, at Trafalgar Road on Saturday, his brother, F. P. Beckett, bowled with equal brilliance throughout the innings. His seven victims were obtained for only 28 runs, despite the fact that the stand for the second wicket produced 63 runs. Nothing indicated the excellence of his bowling at this stage than the fact that his first ten overs, which, save for the initial delivery of the match, were unproductive of result to himself, had only 19 runs knocked off them. After he had effected a separation between the two resisters, he easily commanded the situation, and was the main instrument in getting rid of the opposition for less than a century on a good wicket.

His father died aged 55 on the 15th August 1901.

Probate:-

BECKETT John Henry of Heathfield, Birkdale, Southport Lancashire bank cashier died 15 August 1901 Probate Liverpool 21 October to Hannah Beckett widow, James Edward Kayton Beckett accountant and Annie Beckett (wife of the said James Edward Kayton Beckett). Effects £4,491 12s 4d.

The Manchester Courier of 14th March 1907 reported that Fred had become the new honorable Secretary of the Southport and Birkdale Cricket Club.   

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 1 Dunkirk Road, Birkdale, Southport. His stepmother, Hannah Colton Beckett, is a widow aged 65, born 1846 and lives by private means and was born in Waterloo, Lancashire. She has a daughter and her two stepsons living at the address. Vera Colton Beckett her daughter is aged 11, born 1900, Walter Edward aged 31, born 1880 occupation Cashier  and Frederick Preston aged 28, born 1883  a salesman for a firm of cotton-brokers. Also living at the address are Kate Bessie Milligan aged 31, born 1880 occupation Governess and Alice Astbury aged 34, born 1877 a Domestic Cook.

He enlisted in Liverpool in early September 1914 joining the 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private 15156.

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14^th September 1914, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 07^th November 1915.

He had reached the rank of Company Sergeant Major when he died of wounds on the 19th October 1916, aged 34, during the Battle of the Transloy Ridges which was part of the ongoing Somme Offensive.

The 17th Battn. War Diary has named casualties on the 11-12th October whilst in GIRD TRENCH, and then the next five days they were just in bivouacs, there is no mention of CSM Beckett. He must have been elsewhere when he was wounded. 

His death was reported in the Southport Visiter dated 26th October 1916:

Official news has been received by his stepmother and sister, of 37 Lyndhurst Rd, that Sergt Major Fred P Beckett of the King's Liverpool Regiment, the well known Southport cricketer,  died of wounds on the 13th inst, and the news comes as a shock to his many Southport friends. He enlisted in the "pals" shortly after the outbreak of war, previous to which he was engaged with Messrs Maxall & Turner, Cottonbrokers of Liverpool and had been at the front about 12 months. He was very well known locally in cricketing circles and had captained the Soutport & Birkdale C C for several seasons, having gained considerable fame as a fast bowler. His brother L/Cpl Walter Beckett of the Soutport & Birkdale C C is serving with the A.S.C , M.T. at the front. Sergt Major Beckett, who was 34 years of age, was the son of the late John Henry Beckett and was residing at York Ave, Birkdale , prior to joing the colours.

His death was also reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on Monday 23 October 1916:

SOUTHPORT CASUALTIES. 

Sergeant-Major Fred. P. Beckett, Belmont-street, Southport, who is reported wounded, is well known in the Liverpool district as captain for several seasons, and fast bowler for a longer period, of the Southport and Birkdale Cricket Club. Associated with firm of cotton brokers in Liverpool, he joined up when war broke out.

Also in the Liverpool Daily Post on Wednesday 25 October 1916:

MAJOR F. BECKETT. 

Major Fred Beckett, of the K.L.R., has died of wounds, he was thirty-four years of age, single, and was associated with the firm Messrs. Mayall and Turner, cotton merchants, of Liverpool. He was a well-known cricketer, having been captain of the Southport and Birkdale club.

His death was also reported in the Liverpool Echo on Thursday 26 October 1916:

BECKETT—October 19, from wounds, Sergeant-Major Fred P., youngest son of the late John Henry Beckett, of Manchester and Birkdale.

Frederick now rests at Dernacourt CC Ext, France.

Field ambulances used the Communal Cemetery for Commonwealth burials from September 1915 to August 1916, and again during the German advance of March 1918. It contains 127 Commonwealth burials of the First World War.

The XV Corps Main Dressing Station was formed at Dernancourt in July 1916, when the adjoining EXTENSION was opened. The 45th and 56th (1st/1st South Midland) Casualty Clearing Stations came in September 1916 and remained until March 1917. The 3rd Australian was here in March and April 1917, and the 56th from April 1917 to February 1918. The 3rd Casualty Clearing Station came in March 1918 but on 26 March, Dernancourt was evacuated ahead of the German advance, and the extension remained in their hands until the village was recaptured on 9 August 1918 by the 12th Division and the 33rd American Division. In September it was again used by the 47th, 48th and 55th Casualty Clearing Stations under the name of "Edgehill", due to the rising ground on the north-west.

At the Armistice, the Extension contained more than 1,700 burials; it was then enlarged when graves were brought in from isolated positions in the immediate neighbourhood and certain small cemeteries.

The extension now contains 2,162 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 177 of the burials are unidentified, but there are special memorials to 29 casualties known or believed to be buried among them, and to two buried at Albert Road Cemetery, Buire-sur-Ancre whose grave could not be found on concentration.

The extension was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

On the 1921 census at 37 Lyndhurst Rd, Birkdale, his step-mother Hannah is aged 55 and living with daughter Vera. She died aged 82 in 1947. 

Probate of his estate was obtained at Liverpool on the 12th December 1916 by his brother, Walter Edward Beckett, Lance Corporal in the Army Service Corps. His address was 1 York Avenue, Birkdale and his effects were valued at £915 19s 2d.

Frederick is commemorated on the family headstone in Duke Street Cemetery, Southport. 

He is also commemorated on the following Memorials;

Southport Civic Memorial

St John’s C. of E. Church, Southport

Northern Cricket Club, Crosby

Liverpool Cotton Association

Manchester Grammar School War Memorial.

We currently have no further information on Frederick Preston Beckett, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.