George Beck (nonfiction)
George Irving Beck was a soldier who served in the British Army during the First World War, during which time he was held as a prisoner of war. Beck kept a diary of his experiences as a prisoner of war.
Service history
- Unit : 1st Battalion The Duke of Wellington's Regiment
- Served : France (captured)
- Army No. : 4612260
- POW No. : 16652
- Camps : Stalag VIIIB / 344
Biography
Beck was born in Sheffield on November 22, 1923. He was a pupil at the local Carbrook Council School and on leaving school became a Miner. On September 20, 1932 at the age of 18 years he enlisted in the army at Sheffield. He was given the Army No. 4612260 and joined the 2nd Battalion of The Duke of Wellington’s Regiment. His ‘Regular Army Certificate of Service’ shows: That in Halifax on November 28, 1932 he passed the ‘Army Certificate of Education – 3rd Class’. That in Aldershot on November 30, 1933 he passed the ‘Army Certificate of Education – 2nd Class’ the subjects being English, Army & Empire, Map Reading and Mathematics. In 1935 he saw action on the North West Frontier of India at Loe Agra and Mohmand and was awarded the India General Service Medal 1908 with clasp ‘N.W.F. 1935’. He left the army on January 3, 1939 at the age of 25 years. The final assessment of conduct on ‘Leaving the Colours’ states: Military Conduct: Exemplary Testimonial: A good man, smart, honest & trustworthy, hardworking & clean.
On March 23, 1939 he started attending a government training centre in Leeds and is recorded as having a 5 day leave from the centre between August 5th to 9th 1939. On September 3, 1939, the day England and France declared war on Germany at the start of World War 2, George Irving Beck rejoined the army and his old regiment but this time the 1st Battalion of The Duke of Wellington’s Regiment keeping his old Army No.
On June 05, 1940 George Irving Beck was posted as missing and the following report appeared in the Dunkirk, France. Place called Handpooch near Pommerin local press. ‘Private Beck was seen on the beach at Dunkirk by his brother-in-law, Corporal George Beswick, but has not been heard of since. A regular solder, he served for five years in India before the war. He was married last January before going to France. Mrs. Beck has not seen her husband since. Private Beck was a pupil at the Carbrook Council School.’
‘Wife’s Faith Rewarded by Good News. When her husband was reported missing, a Sheffield woman believed that some day, somewhere, he would turn up. Her husband Private George Beck, of 11, Weston Square, Brightside, Sheffield, of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment was reported missing on June 5th. Weeks passed into months, but still Mrs. Beck had faith, and she has just received a card from him, telling her that he is a prisoner of war in Germany. “It just shows that faith helps a lot,” she told the “Telegraph and Independent,” “for I have always felt that he would turn up some day. All I am waiting for now is the war to end. It can’t be too soon for us.”
His diaries start on ‘May 10, 1940 with the Invasion of Belgium by Germans’ and continue as follows:
May 31, 1940 Captured by Germans about four miles from Dunkirk, France. Place called Handpooch near Pommerin. Out of 28 men I alone remained, what had become of the others I could only guess. Spent about sixteen hours in water. Escorted by German sniper to headquarters where I met five strange chaps who were wounded.
See complete transcript of diary entries @ BBC WW2 People's War.
Beck's final diary entry reads:
May 25, 1945 – Friday Passed through Sheffield about 6am. Leicester breakfasted and carried on, destination said to be near Brighton.
With this entry the diaries ended. On November 01, 1945 from York he was notified that on the expiration of his leave he should report for duty and further medical examination on November 08, 1954 at West Hartlepool detraining station. His war service ended on November 13, 1945. He applied for a resettlement grant to start a Sole Ownership Fruit and Vegetable business and was awarded a War Gratuity of £37 and a Service Post –War Credit of £38-8-6 (Thirty eight pounds eight shillings and six pence). His disability was described as: Operation – Right Renal Calculus, whilst a five year prisoner. Date of termination of furlough March 17, 1946. On November 13, 1946 he received a Hawkers License at a cost of £2.
WW2 People's War is an online archive of wartime memories contributed by members of the public and gathered by the BBC. The archive can be found at:
- http://www.pegasusarchive.org/pow/george_beck.htm bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar.