BECK, James
| Service Number: | 375 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 September 1914, An original of B Squadron |
| Last Rank: | Driver |
| Last Unit: | 22nd Field Artillery (Howitzer) Brigade |
| Born: | Bega, New South Wales, Australia, 1894 |
| Home Town: | Bega, Bega Valley, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Bega Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Dairyman |
| Died: | Accidental (Injuries), France, 29 March 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
St. Pierre Cemetery, Amiens, France Plot VIII, Row B, Grave No. 8 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 1 Sep 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 375, 1st Light Horse Regiment, An original of B Squadron | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Oct 1914: | Involvement Private, 375, 1st Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '1' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Star of Victoria embarkation_ship_number: A16 public_note: '' | |
| 20 Oct 1914: | Embarked Private, 375, 1st Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Star of Victoria, Sydney | |
| 29 Mar 1917: | Involvement Driver, 375, 22nd Field Artillery (Howitzer) Brigade, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 375 awm_unit: 22nd Australian Field Artillery Brigade awm_rank: Driver awm_died_date: 1917-03-29 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
James was the son of Samuel and Mary Beck who were living in Newtown NSW during the war but the family had lived at Bega NSW, for many years.
James served at Gallipoli for several periods in between illnesses and while in France during late November he was wounded in the arm by shrapnel. He was evacuated to England for treatment and recovery. On his return to France, he was travelling back to his unit on a train. The train was parked at a siding in Amiens when it was struck at speed by another train coming behind. It is not known how many casualties there were, but all were on the stationery train and at least three Australians were killed, including James Beck.
375 Driver James Beck was admitted deceased to the New Zealand Hospital in Amiens on 29 March 1917. His spine was broken and he had other grave internal injuries. The OC of the hospital said that death probably almost instantaneous. He was buried the same day.
His older brother, 2114 Pte. Samuel Beck 20th Battalion had been killed in action on 5 May 1916, aged 23.
Another brother, 3463 William Henry Beck 2nd Battalion AIF was returned to Australia in May 1918.