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

Holly Susan Whitlock

Holly Susan Whitlock

2015: Our colleague Andrew Behan has been register-diving again and writes: "I think that this three year old girl was Holly Susan Whitlock. The registers record her death in the Borough of Camden,...

Person, Children

1 memorial
Hilda Mary Martin

Hilda Mary Martin

Killed, aged 2, in the Downhills shelter WW2 tragedy, 19 September 1940.

Person, Children

War dead non-military, WW2
1 memorial
Winnie the Pooh

Winnie the Pooh

Children's storybook character. The creation of A.A. Milne, inspired by the teddy bear, made in Acton, belonging to his son Christopher Robin. The toy was named 'Winnie' after a Canadian black bear...

Fiction, Children, Fictional, Literature

1 memorial
Foundling Hospital

Foundling Hospital

England's first home for abandoned children. Established in 1739 by Captain Thomas Coram. From the Museum's Friends Update: "On the afternoon of Wednesday 25 March {1741}, the coat of arms designe...

Building, Children, Social Welfare

6 memorials
Ambika Paul

Ambika Paul

Daughter of Lord Paul. She died from leukaemia and the Ambika Paul Foundation which supports charitable causes, was set up in her memory.

Person, Children, Friend / family, India

1 memorial

Previously viewed

The Rose Theatre - Kingston upon Thames

The Rose Theatre - Kingston upon Thames

Its layout is based on the former Rose Theatre in Southwark. The front rows have no seats, but instead of standing space for 'groundlings', patrons bring their own cushions. A plaque at the entranc...

Building, Theatre

1 memorial
Orange Street Church

Orange Street Church

WC2, Orange Street

{On the plaque to the right of the door:} Orange Street Congregational Church This Church was founded in 1693 by Huguenot refugees who ...

3 subjects commemorated
Bank underground station

Bank underground station

London Underground station. It has a very complicated layout with many exits/entrances. It is served by the Central, Northern and Waterloo & City lines, as well as the Docklands Light Railway. ...

Place, Transport

1 memorial