Stoker 1st Class SS/116697 George Beck

Family details:
Son of George Beck of 32, Ormskirk Rd., Rainford, St. Helens.

Census details:
1901 - 6 years old George is living at Ormskirk Road, Rainford with parents George (47), Mary (43) and six siblings: Herbert (21), Susannah (19), Mary (14), Annie (8), Lavinia (4), William (2). 1911 - Sees 16 years old 'Press Feeder' George is living at 35 Ormskirk Road, Rainford with widowed father George (56) and three siblings: Herbert (31), Lavina (14), William (12).

Notes:
[note=114]Two Beck Brothers who died In The Great War[/note] [url=lmem.php?lmem=17]George Is Remembered On the Rainford CofE School Memorial[/url] [url=lmem.php?lmem=40]Also remembered on Rainford (All Saints) Parish Church Memorial[/url] Brothers In Law [cas=3465]John Culshaw[/cas] and [cas=3358]Benjamin Jackson[/cas] also died in The Great War.

[pic]imgs/WW1_misc/RainfordMenGallantryAndCasualties.jpg[/pic][caption]The St Helens Reporter - Courtesy Ste M[/caption] [pic]imgs/WW1_misc/Beck_G_SS116697_RN.jpg[/pic][caption]The St Helens Newspaper & Advertiser - Courtesy Ste M[/caption] [pic]imgs/WW1_misc/Stricken_Rainford_family.jpg[/pic][caption]Local Newspaper Article courtesy of Richard Houghton[/caption] [pic]imgs/S1PWHYAOTV/HMS_BEGONIA__zps03fee8b3.jpg[/pic][caption]HMS Begonia[/caption] HMS Begonia was a regular warship, not a conversion. She was one of the "Flower-Q", sloops designed to foster the appearance of a freighter (like the French Amiens class of WWI). Officially she sank due to an explosion of undetermined origin with no survivors while cruising off Casablanca. That night, U 151 was cruising in the area, her lookouts reported seeing a "destroyer" charging her and Captain dived, but the boat was still only at periscope depth when an impact was felt. This was followed by a heavy explosion and on surfacing it was found that there was considerable damage to deck casing abaft the CT. U 151 was able to continue on patrol. It is believed the collision ripped the bottom off Begonia and either a boiler explosion or friction which caused the explosion of ammunition in the magazine may have caused her immediate sinking. It is also likely some depth Charges exploded and killed any swimmers in the area. This is speculative, unless the wreck is located, which it never has been. (researched by Jeff Keenan) [center][pic2 width=350]imgs/S1PWHYAOTV/Beck_George_zpsc31cc35c.jpg[/pic2][/center][caption]The panel on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial showing the name of Stoker 1st Class George Beck[/caption]