Tyne Cot Memorial
Tyne Cot Memorial: Pauline Priano
Father's headstone
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Arthur James Beckham, born at Wayland, Norfolk in 1886 was one of 5 children, the 2nd born of 4 sons and a daughter, offspring of James Emmanuel Beckham of Hindolvesten and Betsy Claske of Thornage, near Holt, both in Norfolk, born 1858 and 1856 respectively. His parents were married in the district of Hindolveston, October 31st 1883. James had been employed as a single man working as a colliery labourer but now supported his family employed as an agricultural labourer. By 1891 he had been joined by his elder sons John (16) working with horses and Arthur as a stock feeder (cattle), until in late 1901 the family migrated to the north east settling in the district of Lanchester, County Durham. Unfortunately, not long after their arrival James Emmanuel Beckham whilst working his shift at South Pontop Colliery was fatally injured, his head crushed between a tub and a packwall where he was timbering, October 23rd 1902, he died 4 days later. His widow Betsy and daughter Christiana, known as Annie, were supported by John and Arthur until Annie and they were married. In 1911 her 3rd born son Henry aged 17 employed underground at the colliery, hanging on the rope, provided for her and his younger brother, Robert (12), a scholar. They lived at 7, Nelson Terrace, Annfield Plain, County Durham.
Arthur James married in the district of Lanchester in 1908 to Mary Ann Applegarth born at Lanchester, County Durham in 1887 and with whom he had 3 children, James Emmanuel born 1909, Ada 1910 and Frances Jane born 1917.
On the outbreak of war Arthur was living with his family at 39, Annfield Place, Annfield Plain, County Durham and left his employment as a miner to enlist at Stanley, October 12th 1914. Assigned as Private 20662 Durham Light Infantry he joined his regiment at their barracks at Newcastle-upon-Tyne and later transferred to Woking in Surrey, posted to the 10th Battalion. By February 1915 the Battalion was transferred to Aldershot, attached to the 43rd Brigade, 14th (Light) Division they departed to France May 21st 1915. Three weeks later after a brief period of trench familiarisation they found themselves in the front line trenches just south of Ypres in Belgium. The Battalion suffered heavy casualties and during this period Arthur was appointed acting Corporal and had risen to the rank of Sergeant by August 13th 1915 whilst the Battalion was involved in fighting at Hooge.
The Battalion remained in Belgium where Sergeant Beckham was wounded October 14th 1915, multiple superficial gunshot wounds to both lower limbs whilst in the performance of his duty carrying bombs. Evacuated back through the lines by the 43rd Field Ambulance to the Casualty Clearing Station for initial treatment, he was sent back to England by hospital ship, October 19th 1915. Once recovered he was posted to the Army Reserve for retraining, unfortunately during this period he was informed of 2-year-old daughter Ada Isabella’s death, due to convulsions, March 24th 1917.
Soon after, June 27th 1917 he was again drafted to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force leaving his wife Mary Ann heavily pregnant with their third child. Assigned initially to the 2nd Battalion he was transferred June 28th 1917 to the 10th Battalion Durham Light Infantry in the field on the Hindenburg Line until August 1917 when it was again posted to the Ypres salient in Belgium suffering heavy casualties in fighting on the Menin Road.
Sergeant Arthur James Beckham was reported as wounded/missing August 22nd 1917, his wife was informed, however, after extensive investigations were undertaken by the Army as to his possible whereabouts and based upon the deposition of a Private 201339 Private G. West also of the 10th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, it was concluded due to the lapse of time and lack of any evidence to the contrary, that Sergeant 20662 Arthur James Beckham Durham Light Infantry was presumed to have died, August 22nd 1917. His widow now living at 5, Derwent Terrace, Annfield Plain, County Durham was informed of this decision and awarded a pension of 25 shillings 5 pence as of April 29th 1918 for herself and their two children, having given birth to a daughter, October 30th 1917, after the death of her husband, whom she named Frances Jane. As per her husband’s will she received all monies owed to him also his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
His sacrifice is recorded as one of the 34,997 names inscribed on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing which forms part of the perimeter wall of Tyne Cot Cemetery, Zonnebeke, near Ypres in Belgium, commemorating servicemen from Britain and New Zealand who perished on the Ypres salient and have no known grave, nearly all of whom died between August 1917 and November 1918. He was 29 years of age.
Mary Ann Beckham nee Applegarth did not remarry, she died in the district of Durham North Western in 1956 aged 68 years.
In Harelaw Old Cemetery is a family grave with the inscription;
The Beloved Husband Of ELIZABETH BECKHAM,
Who Was Fatally Injured At South Pontop Colliery,
On October 22nd, Died October 27th 1902
Aged 47 Years.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Arthur James Beckham is remembered at Greencroft on G54.01 and at Annfield Plain on A38.01 and A38.11
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 221
