John's Story.
Private John Beckett, of the 4th Royal Warwickshire Militia Regiment, number 5923, died of typhoid on 4th February 1902, in Middelburg, Transvaal, South Africa. He was 21 years old.
NB Private John Beckett 5923 from Winsford is not to be confused with a soldier of the same name from West Bromwich, Corporal John or F Beckett 7402, of 31st Company Army Service Corps, who also died at Middelburg on 5th Feb 1902, and nor is he John Beckett 1688 of the Cheshire Yeomanry, who came from Cross Town, Knutsford.
Both John Becketts who died in February 1902 are buried in Middelburg.
What do we know about John?
John was born in Middlewich, in the early summer of 1880. He was the second son of George (1849 - 1924) and Ann nee Worrall (1842 - 1921), and brother to Emily, Peter and William. (Two other siblings James and Thomas died in childhood). The family home in 1891 was 97 Station Road, Wharton, near Winsford, and his parents lived on the same road for the rest of their lives, in several different homes. In March 1901, the census shows that John's father George had a grocery shop at 69 Station Road.
Station Road, Wharton, Winsford, where John grew up
From the Register of Deceased Soldiers Effects, we know that when he enlisted on 1st June 1898, at Manchester, John's occupation was grocer, perhaps working for his father. George is shown as next of kin, indicating that John was not married.
John died on 4th February 1902 after a few days' illness, and was buried in Old Middelburg Municipal Cemetery, Middelburg (Steve Yshwete), Nkangala District Municipality, Mpumalanga, South Africa.
NB Private John Beckett 5923 from Winsford is not to be confused with a soldier of the same name from West Bromwich, Corporal John or F Beckett 7402, of 31st Company Army Service Corps, who also died at Middelburg on 5th Feb 1902, and nor is he John Beckett 1688 of the Cheshire Yeomanry, who came from Cross Town, Knutsford.
Both John Becketts who died in February 1902 are buried in Middelburg.
What do we know about John?
John was born in Middlewich, in the early summer of 1880. He was the second son of George (1849 - 1924) and Ann nee Worrall (1842 - 1921), and brother to Emily, Peter and William. (Two other siblings James and Thomas died in childhood). The family home in 1891 was 97 Station Road, Wharton, near Winsford, and his parents lived on the same road for the rest of their lives, in several different homes. In March 1901, the census shows that John's father George had a grocery shop at 69 Station Road.
Station Road, Wharton, Winsford, where John grew up
From the Register of Deceased Soldiers Effects, we know that when he enlisted on 1st June 1898, at Manchester, John's occupation was grocer, perhaps working for his father. George is shown as next of kin, indicating that John was not married.
John died on 4th February 1902 after a few days' illness, and was buried in Old Middelburg Municipal Cemetery, Middelburg (Steve Yshwete), Nkangala District Municipality, Mpumalanga, South Africa.
“Presented by the town of Winsford as a souvenir of the patriotism and valour of Corporal John Beckett, of the 4th Royal Warwickshire Militia Regiment"
John's service was recognised by the town of Winsford, who issued a tribute medal which was presented to his parents in April 1902:
The Chairman then presented Captain TURNER with a silver medal, from the town, amid applause. On one side of the medal were troopers on horseback and round the border “Transvaal War in South Africa 1900-1901”, and on the other “Presented by the town of Winsford to Captain James A. Turner in recognition of his patriotism and valour in serving in the Transvaal War as an officer on the staff”. Captain Turner expressed his thanks for the town’s recognition of his services, and briefly narrated one or two war incidents to the intense gratification of the large audience. He also expressed his sympathy with the parents of Corporal BECKETT and Private WALKER, and encouraged them to think that the men had died for a good cause.
The Chairman then handed the medals to the parents named. They were similar in pattern to the one he presented to Captain TURNER. One bore the inscription: – “presented by the town of Winsford as a souvenir of the patriotism and valour of Corporal John Beckett, of the 4th Royal Warwickshire Militia Regiment, serving in the Transvaal, and died at Middelburg, February 5th, 1902”. The other bore the words: – “Presented by the town of Winsford as a souvenir of the patriotism and valour of Private Aaron Walker, of the 19th Hussars, serving in the Transvaal, and died at Ladysmith, December 23rd, 1899”. (Northwich Guardian, 9th April 1902)
John's name appears on the Boer War Memorial in Winsford, erected in 1905.
Researched by S. Lewington 2025
John's name appears on the Boer War Memorial in Winsford, erected in 1905.
Researched by S. Lewington 2025