BECK, Samuel
| Service Numbers: | 2214, 2114 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 10 July 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 20th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Newtown, New South Wales, Australia, 1892 |
| Home Town: | Bega, Bega Valley, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Bega Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Dairyman |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 5 May 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
Brewery Orchard Cemetery, Bois-Grenier Plot IV, Row C, Grave No. 25 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 10 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2214, 20th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 30 Sep 1915: | Involvement Private, 2214, 20th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Argyllshire embarkation_ship_number: A8 public_note: '' | |
| 30 Sep 1915: | Embarked Private, 2214, 20th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Argyllshire, Sydney | |
| 5 May 1916: | Involvement Private, 2114, 20th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2114 awm_unit: 20 Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-05-05 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Samuel Beck was the son of Samuel and Mary Beck who were living in Newtown NSW during the war but the family had lived at Bega NSW, for many years. His brother 375 Dvr. James Beck 22nd Field Artillery Brigade died of injuries in France on 29 March 1917, aged 22.
Samuel died 5 May 1916, when an extremely heavy bombardment began to rain down on the forward companies of the 20th Battalion in the ‘Nursery Sector’ near Armentieres. As the bombardment kept men from coming to the aid of the forward companies, a German raiding party from the Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 230 entered the Australian trenches. Armed with pistols, grenades and trench clubs, the Germans were searching for tunnel entrances. They spent eight minutes in the Australian trenches, and suffered no casualties. The bombardment and raid cost the 20th Battalion 23 dead, 72 wounded, and 11 captured.
Another brother, 3463 William Henry Beck 2nd Battalion AIF was returned to Australia in May 1918.