Rank
Second Lieutenant
Medals
1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Regiment
Highland Light Infantry, 17th Battalion ‘A’ Company
Military Service
Beckett enlisted in the 17th HLI as a private (15838) and was given a commission in December 1914. He went to France with the Battalion in November 1915 but nothing further is known about his service
Born
Death
4th July 1916
Circumstances of death
On 1st July, the first day of the Battle of the Somme, ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ companies advanced towards the enemy front line at 7.30am. Beckett was wounded before he reached the enemy front line and died as a result of his wounds on 4th July.
Age
31
Burial
Puchevillers British Cemetery, I. A. 30
CWGC Information
Son of Hugh and Margaret Russell Beckett. Born at Ardrossan, Ayrshire.
Parents
Hugh Beckett (1824-1905) & Margaret R Anderson (c1844-1888), married 1862 New Kilpatrick, Dunbartonshire
Fathers Occupation
Siblings
Elizabeth C (1863-1958), Janet D (1864-), Hugh (1865-1936), Margaret A (1866-), William A (1868-1935), Robert H (c1878-), Jane H (c1880-)
Spouse
Education
Occupation
Stockbroker, partner in Messrs Beckett Bros, West Nile Street, Glasgow.
1891 Census
South Crescent, Ardrossan
1901 Census
7 Windsor Terrace, Partick
1911 Census
7 Windsor Terrace, Partick
Home Address
1916 – 7 Windsor Terrace, Partick
Glasgow Necropolis
Other Memorials
Scottish National War Memorial (listed as Lieut James Ronald Beckett)
Ardrossan War Memorial
Royal Troon Golf Club War Memorial
Other Information
Beckett left personal estate in the United Kingdom to the value of £44,128.
Acknowledgements and Sources
Much of the information on which this profile is based is drawn from various internet sources which are listed below. The Friends of Glasgow Necropolis also wish to make full acknowledgement and thanks for the permitted use of any information or images generously supplied specifically for exhibition, publication or display in connection with The Roll of Honour and accompanying profiles to Ancestry (www.ancestry.co.uk), Findmypast (www.findmypast.co.uk)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission – www.cwgc.org
Family Search – www.familysearch.org
The Long, Long Trail – http://www.1914-1918.net/
Scotlands People – www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk
The Scottish War Memorials Project – www.warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com
The Seventeenth Highland Light Infantry (Glasgow Chamber of Commerce Battalion), Record of War Service, 1914-1918. 1920.
War Diary of 17th Battalion Highland Light Infantry, Nov 1915-Jan 1918 (TNA WO/95/2403/3)
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Medals
1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Regiment
Royal Field Artillery
Regiment Information
Highland Light Infantry, 17th Battalion ‘A’ Company
Military Service
Beckett enlisted in the 17th HLI as a private (15838) and was given a commission in December 1914. He went to France with the Battalion in November 1915 but nothing further is known about his service
Born
Death
4th July 1916
Circumstances of Death
On 1st July, the first day of the Battle of the Somme, ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ companies advanced towards the enemy front line at 7.30am. Beckett was wounded before he reached the enemy front line and died as a result of his wounds on 4th July.
Age
31
Burial
Puchevillers British Cemetery, I. A. 30
CWGC Information
Son of Hugh and Margaret Russell Beckett. Born at Ardrossan, Ayrshire.
Parents
Hugh Beckett (1824-1905) & Margaret R Anderson (c1844-1888), married 1862 New Kilpatrick, Dunbartonshire
Father's Occupation
Siblings
Elizabeth C (1863-1958), Janet D (1864-), Hugh (1865-1936), Margaret A (1866-), William A (1868-1935), Robert H (c1878-), Jane H (c1880-)
Spouse
Education
Occupation
Stockbroker, partner in Messrs Beckett Bros, West Nile Street, Glasgow.
1911 Census
7 Windsor Terrace, Partick
Home Address
1916 – 7 Windsor Terrace, Partick
Glasgow Necropolis
1891 Census
South Crescent, Ardrossan
1901 Census
7 Windsor Terrace, Partick
Other Memorials
Scottish National War Memorial (listed as Lieut James Ronald Beckett)
Ardrossan War Memorial
Royal Troon Golf Club War Memorial
Other Information
Beckett left personal estate in the United Kingdom to the value of £44,128.
Acknowledgements and Sources
Much of the information on which this profile is based is drawn from various internet sources which are listed below. The Friends of Glasgow Necropolis also wish to make full acknowledgement and thanks for the permitted use of any information or images generously supplied specifically for exhibition, publication or display in connection with The Roll of Honour and accompanying profiles to Ancestry (www.ancestry.co.uk), Findmypast (www.findmypast.co.uk)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission – www.cwgc.org
Family Search – www.familysearch.org
The Long, Long Trail – http://www.1914-1918.net/
Scotlands People – www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk
The Scottish War Memorials Project – www.warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com
The Seventeenth Highland Light Infantry (Glasgow Chamber of Commerce Battalion), Record of War Service, 1914-1918. 1920.
War Diary of 17th Battalion Highland Light Infantry, Nov 1915-Jan 1918 (TNA WO/95/2403/3)
Credits
Compiled by Morag Fyfe, Historical and Genealogical Researcher for The Friends of Glasgow Necropolis.
James Randall Beckett Memorial - Epsilon