Victor Lionel Beckley

Corporal, Royal Field Artillery

Age 14.4, class IIID : 'Works very well: has made a good start'

Victor Lionel Beckley was born 8 December 1893, the son of William J Beckley an accountant. He had two older brothers at Alleyn's, Harry Frederick Beckley and Herbert E Beckley. He attended Alleyn's from 1908 until 1909 before joining the British Expeditionary Force as part of the Royal Field Artillery. 

Before the war, he lived at 19 Winterbrook Road, Herne Hill. After being found medically fit for service, he joined the RFA overseas and served in France and Flanders where the artillery provided essential support to the infantry in battle. Victor served as a Corporal with the RFA and took part in the advance to victory during the last 100 days of war in 1918. During this advance, he was wounded in battle after the Germans released gas on the attacking British infantry. He was transferred to the No. 4 General Hospital in France where he later died of his wounds just a few days before the end of the war on 6 November 1918.

Victor is buried in Etaples Military Cemetery in France and commemorated on his family tomb stone in West Norwood Cemetery in London.

Victor's school record shows that he was in the same class as Herbert Shinkfield, who survived the war.

Photo of the gravestone is courtesy of the Friends of West Norwood Cemetery