Son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Beck, of 6, North View, Blackhill, Co. Durham.
Paul Heatherington has submitted the following:-
Herbert Beck was born in Edmundbyers in January 1895. He was the youngest son of William Edward Beck, born at Ruffside, and Priscilla Chambers, from Edmundbyers. William and Priscilla were married in the spring of 1870. Herbert’s older siblings were named Jane Anne, John Thomas, George William, Frederick, Mary Hannah, Albert and Martha.
In 1901, the family were living at 8 West View, Blackhill. William Beck was a ‘jobbing gardener’. Herbert’s brother Albert died in 1905 and his father in 1906.
In 1911, Herbert was living with his mother, John and Martha at 6 North View. He was a music student and a member of the Church of England.
The Newcastle Journal 22/05/1915 reports:-
The Vicar and Churchwardens have appointed Mr Herbert Beck, organist of Blackhill Wesleyan Church, as organist of St. Cuthbert's Church Benfieldside, at a salary of £30 per annum.
Herbert enlisted at Consett on the 10th December 1915. He was twenty years and eleven months old. He was 5’ 5 ½’’ tall with a chest measurement of 34’’ and was now a music teacher.
Herbert was wounded twice, on 23rd September 1916 (left foot) and 22nd November 1917 (legs and body) and was admitted to military hospitals.
On the 13th April 1918 Herbert was missing, presumed dead, in France. He was just twenty-three years old. He is commemorated at the Ploegsteert Memorial.
Herbert’s mother, Priscilla, died in September 1918. Herbert’s remaining brothers and sisters continued to live in the North-East. Jane Ann and Mary Hannah became servants in a solicitor’s house in Sunderland. Jane married Edward Smith in Sunderland in 1901. Frederick married Mary Jane in 1911 and lived at 57 Thomas Street. Martha married William French in 1924. In 1939, George William was living at 5 North View and John Thomas was living next door at 6 North View with his sister Martha and her husband.
Herbert Beck is remembered at Blackhill on B145.11 and at Shotley Bridge on S27.03
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 82