BORN HULL 1895. YOUNGEST SON OF ANN ELIZABETH COATES & JOHN BECKETT (1854-1915), WHO LIVED AT 214, DANSOM LANE, HULL. (WAR PENSION AND CWGC ADDRESS). HE HAD THREE BROTHERS AND FIVE OLDER SISTERS. A FORMER RECKITT’S WORKER, JOINING THE FIRM ON 27/02/1911.
HE ENLISTED IN HULL, ON 10/12/1915. HE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REJECTED TWICE BY THE ARMY, BUT JOINED UNDER THE DERBY SCHEME. HIS ARMY RECORDS DESCRIBED HIM AS 5 FOOT 3.5 INCHES TALL, WEIGHING 112 LBS, 33 INCHES AND OF ‘FAIR’ PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT.
HE WAS POSTED TO FRANCE ON 05/05/1916. SERVED AS, PRIVATE, 21593, 8TH EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT. WAS KILLED IN ACTION, A MONTH LATER, ON 13/06/1916, AGED 21. HIS ARMY SERVICE LASTED 187 DAYS. HE IS BURIED AT RIDGE WOOD CEMETERY, BELGIUM.
HIS ARMY EFFECTS WERE LEFT TO HIS MOTHER, ANN.
HE IS COMMEMORATED ON THE DANSOM LANE MEMORIAL, HULL. HIS NAME IS ALSO RECORDED ON THE RECKITT’S WW1 BOYS CLUB ROLL OF HONOUR
