246977 2Lt. Herbert Charles Beck British Army 152nd Brigade, A Battery Royal Field Artillery from:Liverpool (d.25th October 1918) Herbert Beck, my grandfather, was born in Manchester or Birmingham but was taken with his parents to Boston, Massachusetts when his father, a finisher of brass, was recruited there. Herbert grew up in Massachusetts, married a local girl, a descendant of numerous Revolutionary War Soldiers, and was posted to Liverpool in 1911 as a cotton broker for the Bush Company.
With three children, two born in Liverpool, he was called up or volunteered in 1917 and became a 2nd Lt. with the Royal Field Artillery. On 8th of October 1918, he and a fellow officer named Edwards were sent to explore a new route to bring ammunition to the front, as the current road at that time was being heavily shelled. Much to his surprise and amusement, The Bosche lobbed some shells from their big guns at the two officers, and as they were returning with their new route, a shell exploded near them. Lt. Beck was wounded in the head and back, and was helped back to headquarters by Edwards and some pioneers who were nearby.
He wrote a six page letter detailing his experiences to his wife from a Red Cross Hospital the next day, describing his wounds as superficial and predicting that he would be back in service within a week or so. His main concern other than setting his family's minds at ease was that he would need some new kit. Sadly, infection set in and he died in a hospital in Boulogne on 20th of October. He is buried at the British Cemetery at Terlincthun.
We have in our family a wonderful portrait of him in uniform, plus a very nice portrait of one of his fellow officers, whose initials seem to be J.B.L. Would love to get in contact with any family of this officer.
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