Private William Richard Beckett
- Rank
- Private
- Service number
- 5349
- Unit
- 11 Battalion
- Cause of death
- Died of Wounds
- Place of death
- France
- Date of death
- 13 November 1916
- Age
- 32
- Plaque number
- L67
- Co-located plaques
- L67A - CPL Lewis Broad
- L67B - PTE Reginald Beckett
- Dedicated by
- Frends on 18 February 2012
- More information
Biography presented during plaque dedication:
Private William Richard Beckett was born at Strawberry, Western Australia in 1884, the son of William and Anne Beckett of Mingenew. William was one of the older children of a family with four sons and four daughters.
He went to the local state school and after leaving worked as a station hand in the district.
He was engaged to Corporal Lewis Broad’s cousin, Amy. William and Lewis both enlisted at Blackboy Hill Military Camp in 1916 and were posted to 17 Reinforcements of 11 Battalion.
After training at the camp they embarked on HMAT Aeneas at Fremantle arriving at Suez in June and then to England. In August they embarked for France and proceeded into action.
Private William Richard Beckett, service number 5349 of 11 Battalion, died of wounds received in France on 13 November 1916. He was 32 years of age.
William's plaque is placed alongside that of his good mate Corporal Lewis John Broad of 11 Battalion and his younger brother, Private Reginald George Beckett of Headquarters Guard Battalion.