Service Number 13808
Service Army
Battalion 4th Battalion
Regiment West Yorkshire Regiment
Biography
On the 23rd October 1914, the Wetherby News published a list of men who had volunteered for service. The name of W. Beckitt of Wetherby Grange appears on that list. We have identified this as being William Beckitt (sometimes as William Beckett), a footman, from his service record which survives in The National Archives as part of the 'Unburnt' papers.
William's service record records him as having been born around 1895, the son of Robert Beckitt (Beckett) in Thetford, Norfolk. We have however been unable to trace any further details of his life before 1914. His prewar occupation is given on his service records as a footman and we believe he may have worked at Wetherby Grange in that role.
William enlisted for military service on the 8th September 1914 in York and joined the 4th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment. This battalion was an Extra Reserve Battalion which formed in York in August 1914 as a training unit, it remained in UK throughout the war. The battalion moved around the time of William's joining to Falmouth. There, on the 17th November 1914, William was discharged from the Army under King's Regulations paragraph 392(iii)c as unlikely to become an efficient soldier. His record shows he was suffering from a right inguinal hernia. He was awarded a Silver War Badge to demonstrate his willingness to do his bit for King and Country.
On his military discharge papers William stated that after discharge he intended to live at 45 Old Market Street, Thetford. We have found no other details of his life after discharge.
Biography last updated 19 October 2021 13:49:42.
Sources
The Wetherby News 18/9/1914 & 23/10/1914
First World War British Army Pension Records. The National Archives (WO364).
If you have any photographs or further details about this person we would be pleased to hear from you. Please contact us via: alan.berry@collinghamanddistrictwararchive.info