Person    | Male  Born 1900  Died 4/8/1912

William Beckham

William Beckham

William Beckham is the boy lying on his side on the left at the front in the photograph of the scout troop. 

He was one of the ten children of William John Beckham (1870-1917) and Harriett Beckham née Fletcher (b.1872). His birth was registered in the 1st quarter of 1900 in the St Saviour registration district, Southwark. On 25 February 1900 he was baptised in St Mark's Church, Walworth, where the baptismal register shows the family living at 20 Wooler Street, Walworth and that his father's occupation was a carman. 

In the 1901 census he is shown as living in three rooms at 3 Victory Cottages, Newington, Walworth, with his parents and three sisters: Martha Beckham (1892-1913), Jane Beckham (1894-1913) and Mary Beckham (b.1897). His father was listed as a vestry carman.

When his father completed his 1911 census return he is shown as a school boy living in 6 rooms at 37 Eltham Street, Walworth, with his parents, six siblings: Martha, Mary, John Beckham (b.1898), Edward Charles Beckham (1901-1974), Bertha Harriet Beckham (1904-1981), James Beckham (b.1906), together with his paternal grandparents, John Beckham (1847-1911) and Sarah Beckham née Chandler (b.1851). His father described himself as a borough council carman. 

He was a Patrol Leader in the 2nd Walworth Scout Troop and drowned, aged 12 years, on 4 August 1912 in the tragedy at Leysdown. His brother Edward, who was also on the ship's cutter, was rescued and lived to become the great-grandfather of footballer David Beckham.

He was buried on 10 August 1912 in the War Graves Plot, Square 52, in Nunhead Cemetery, Linden Grove, London, SE15 3LP. His death was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1912 in the Sheppey registration district, Kent.

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk and Andrew Behan.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
William Beckham

Commemorated ati

Walworth Boy Scouts Tragedy - new memorial

{Left hand page of an open book:} To commemorate the scouts of the 2nd Walwor...

Read More

Walworth Boy Scouts Tragedy - original plaque

The plaque is actually a resin copy of the one that was attached to the origi...

Read More

Other Subjects

Sir John Kirk

Sir John Kirk

J.P., Christian philanthropist, the children's friend.  Not to be confused with Sir John Kirk (1832-1922), the African explorer.  Sir John's great great grandson, Peter Mitchell, contacted us to sa...

Person, Children, Education, Philanthropy

1 memorial
Anne Morkill

Anne Morkill

One of the 11 "children of England" present on 7th July 1933 when The Princess Royal laid a foundation stone for a nurses home for the Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital.

Person, Children

1 memorial
John Procter, the younger

John Procter, the younger

Grandson of Mary and John Procter, died aged 9 months. We don't actually know that his surname was Procter since John had one daughter as well as three sons.

Person, Children, Friend / family

1 memorial
Upper North Street school WW1 bomb

Upper North Street school WW1 bomb

This bomb was one of those dropped during the first daylight bombing attack on London by a fixed-wing aircraft. Prior to this the bombs had been dropped from Zeppelins. Just before noon the bomb br...

Event, Children, Tragedy

5 memorials
Hamleys of London

Hamleys of London

Established by William Hamley as 'Noah's Ark' at 231 High Holborn. Branch at 200 Regent Street opened in 1881. The original shop was destroyed by fire in 1901 and moved down the road to 86-87 High ...

Group, Children, Commerce

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Thomas Tompion

Thomas Tompion

F.R.S. "the father of English clockmaking". Buried in Westminster Abbey.

Person, Craft / Design

4 memorials
Buddy Holly

Buddy Holly

Musician and singer-songwriter. Born as Charles Hardin Holley in Lubbock, Texas. With his backing group The Crickets, he achieved considerable pop chart success with songs such as 'That'll be the D...

Person, Music / songs, USA

1 memorial