Will was born on 26th July 1890 in Easton Royal, Wiltshire, the oldest of four brothers born to Joshua and Ellen (Farrow) Beckingham. He died on 19th April 1956 in Savernake Hospital, Marlborough, Wiltshire. He married my grandmother, Phyllis Fitchett on the 5th April 1915 at Milton Lilbourne, Wiltshire and the marriage certificate shows him to be in the 3rd Battalion, the Wiltshire Regiment. Two children, Mary Ellen and Reginald, survived them. I always knew that he had been wounded in WWI, but not as many times as he actually was. I was fortunate in that my Grandmother kept the letters that she received from the Army advising of Granddad's hospitalisations and these have now come into my possession. I have also obtained copies of the War Diaries kept daily by, usually, an Adjutant of the Battalion to record what was actually happening wherever the Battalion was. I think that to make it easier to read, I will try and record Granddad's WWI service as a diary that he may have kept, (but that I have not found). There are several photographs that supplement the narrative and I have inserted these along with the War diary extracts (in italics) in the attached PDF file. || || 16th General hospital at Le Treport. I am standing, sixth in from the left with my arm in a sling. || Photograph || Hospital Group || || William Henry Beckingham || 18619 William Henry Beckingham || Photograph || || Diary || Possible diary for Will Beckingham

Frederick was the youngest of my great grandparents Joshua and Ellen (Farrow) Beckingham’s four sons. He was born 2nd March 1900 at Milton Lilbourne, and was an agricultural labourer living with his parents at New Mill, Pewsey when he was called up on 17th April 1918. His papers describe him as of fair hair and fresh complexion, with grey eyes and 5 feet and ¾ inch tall. His later discharge papers say that his eyes were hazel. He also grew 1 ¾ inches during his short service as the discharge has him at 5 feet 2 inches! He was posted to the 53rd TS Battalion the Royal Warwickshire Regiment at Larkhill, Wiltshire on 22nd April as Pte 25651. On 27th April he was with the 51st (Grad) Battalion at Wangford. He was admitted to an RAMC Field Hospital on 15th May and immediately transferred to the 1st Eastern General Hospital at Cambridge. It was from here that he was officially discharged from the Army on 16th July 1918 as being medically unfit for service. The Army’s character reference on his discharge stated that Frederick was “steady and willing, and was of a good military character”. The Medal Roll Index does show that he was awarded the Silver War Badge to show that he did serve his country and was medically discharged. He married Margaret Olive Sims at Milton Lilbourne, Wiltshire on 28th April 1926. Frederick later moved to Winchester in Hampshire and died there on 23rd December 1955. || Story and photograph || || Frederick James Beckingham || Photograph || Head and shoulders only - taken post WWI

Jack, as everyone knew him, was the second son of my great grandparents, Joshua and Ellen (Farrow) Beckingham, and born on 27th December 1892 at Easton Royal, Wiltshire. His service was different to that of his three brothers, who were infantrymen, as according to the WWI Church plaque at Milton Lilbourne, he served his time in the Royal Field Artillery. Jack was called up on 1st February 1915 and enlisted in the R F A at Pewsey, Wilts and was posted to No 3 Depot, 13th Reserve Battery as Driver (Regimental number) 86237. He was shown on his attestation papers as being 5 feet 4 ½ inches tall, although no other physical description was given. He was at the time a labourer living with his parents at New Mill, near Pewsey. He was based at Hilsea in England until 17th October 1915, during which time he was admitted to hospital at Cosham, Hants, near Portsmouth, with the measles! He was there from 14th to 27th April. The 6th May saw Jack posted to the 44th Reserve Battery and on 6th October he was transferred to 4A Reserve Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery. On the 18th October 1915 he was posted to 34th Battalion R F A with the British Expeditionary Force in France and remained there until 24th August 1918. Jack was then granted 15 days home leave but on 9th September 1918 he was back in France until 31st May 1919 when he returned to Woolwich, England, his papers showing that he brought the Battalion’s horses back with him. Jack received the 1914/15 Star, British and Victory Medals. When he was discharged from the Army on 14th August 1919 he had moved from home at New Mill to 20 Hathpool Street, Hall Park, Paddington, London. He married Florence Elizabeth Perry on 31st July 1920 and according to family knowledge, they remained in the Paddington area of London for the rest of their lives, and did not have any children. He died in Paddington, London on 19th November 1962. || Photograph of Jack and Flo Beckingham || || Jack and Flo Beckingham || Photograph || Home Front