Captain Frank Beck
Encyclopedia
Captain Frank Reginald Beck, MVO (3 May 1861 – 12 August 1915) was a land agent
, British soldier and a central figure in one of World War I
's more enduring myths.
Born in Oxwick
, Norfolk
, he was the son of Edmund Beck, Land Agent
to the British Royal Family at Sandringham
. Educated at Norfolk County School, North Elmham
, he inherited his father’s position on the King’s estate, serving as Land Agent at Sandringham to Edward VII when Prince of Wales
, 1891–1901, and when King, 1901–10; and to King George V from 1910 until the war. He was appointed a Member of the Royal Victorian Order (4th Class) in 1901 and created a Knight of the Order of St Olav by the King of Norway
, 13 November 1906.
Beck was instrumental in the formation of the Sandringham Company of Volunteers ('E' Company, 5th Battalion Norfolk Regiment, Territorial Force
), which included grooms, gardeners, farm labourers and household staff from the King's estates. Beck raised the company as a Volunteer Force
unit in 1906.
Despite his age and the fact King George V told him not to go, he volunteered for foreign service after the outbreak of war and served with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force
at Gallipoli, leading his company during the attack on Anafarta on 12 August 1915. He fought along side his two nephews, Arthur Evelyn and Albert Edward Alexander Beck, who were both awarded the Military Cross. On that day, a large part of the Norfolks (including Capt. Beck and many of the Sandringham Company) were missing in action. For many years, nothing was known of their fate.
Queen Alexandra, Edward VII's widow, took a particular interest in establishing what had happened to the men, many of whom had been her employees. Many years later, a legend sprang up that they had disappeared in a massive cloud of unknown, supposedly supernatural, origin. However, after the Armistice
, 180 bodies were found "scattered over an area of about one square mile, at a distance of at least 800 yards behind the Turkish front line."
This information was kept from Queen Alexandra as it was felt she would be too distressed at the news.
A watch belonging to Beck, given to him in 1915 by Sir Dighton Probyn VC, was recovered after the war. It was presented to his heirs in 1922 and remains in the family's possession.
Beck is commemorated on the Helles Memorial and with a brass plaque in the Church of St Mary Magdalene, Sandringham
. He and the 18 other men from the company who died at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli are commemorated on the Sandringham war memorial cross and in West Newton parish church.
Beck was survived by his wife Mary Plumpton Wilson and their 5 daughters - their only son, Jack dying in infancy
In 1999, a film was made, entitled All the Kings Men, depicting the formation of the Sandringham company, its fate, and Beck's role in this. Beck was portrayed by David Jason
.
Land agent
Land agent may be used in at least three different contexts.Traditionally, a land agent was a managerial employee who conducted the business affairs of a large landed estate for a member of the landed gentry of the United Kingdom, supervising the farming of the property by farm labourers and/or...
, British soldier and a central figure in one of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
's more enduring myths.
Born in Oxwick
Oxwick
Oxwick is a hamlet in the English county of Norfolk. It lies close to the source of the River Wensum and lies one mile south of the village of Colkirk.-External links:...
, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, he was the son of Edmund Beck, Land Agent
Land agent
Land agent may be used in at least three different contexts.Traditionally, a land agent was a managerial employee who conducted the business affairs of a large landed estate for a member of the landed gentry of the United Kingdom, supervising the farming of the property by farm labourers and/or...
to the British Royal Family at Sandringham
Sandringham House
Sandringham House is a country house on of land near the village of Sandringham in Norfolk, England. The house is privately owned by the British Royal Family and is located on the royal Sandringham Estate, which lies within the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.-History and current...
. Educated at Norfolk County School, North Elmham
North Elmham
North Elmham is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk.It covers an area of and had a population of 1,428 in 624 households as of the 2001 census. For the purposes of local government, it falls within the district of Breckland....
, he inherited his father’s position on the King’s estate, serving as Land Agent at Sandringham to Edward VII when Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...
, 1891–1901, and when King, 1901–10; and to King George V from 1910 until the war. He was appointed a Member of the Royal Victorian Order (4th Class) in 1901 and created a Knight of the Order of St Olav by the King of Norway
Haakon VII of Norway
Haakon VII , known as Prince Carl of Denmark until 1905, was the first king of Norway after the 1905 dissolution of the personal union with Sweden. He was a member of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg...
, 13 November 1906.
Beck was instrumental in the formation of the Sandringham Company of Volunteers ('E' Company, 5th Battalion Norfolk Regiment, Territorial Force
Territorial Force
The Territorial Force was the volunteer reserve component of the British Army from 1908 to 1920, when it became the Territorial Army.-Origins:...
), which included grooms, gardeners, farm labourers and household staff from the King's estates. Beck raised the company as a Volunteer Force
Volunteer Force (Great Britain)
The Volunteer Force was a citizen army of part-time rifle, artillery and engineer corps, created as a popular movement in 1859. Originally highly autonomous, the units of volunteers became increasingly integrated with the British Army after the Childers Reforms in 1881, before forming part of the...
unit in 1906.
Despite his age and the fact King George V told him not to go, he volunteered for foreign service after the outbreak of war and served with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force
Mediterranean Expeditionary Force
The Mediterranean Expeditionary Force was part of the British Army during World War I, that commanded all Allied forces at Gallipoli and Salonika. This included the initial naval operation to force the straits of the Dardanelles. Its headquarters was formed in March 1915...
at Gallipoli, leading his company during the attack on Anafarta on 12 August 1915. He fought along side his two nephews, Arthur Evelyn and Albert Edward Alexander Beck, who were both awarded the Military Cross. On that day, a large part of the Norfolks (including Capt. Beck and many of the Sandringham Company) were missing in action. For many years, nothing was known of their fate.
Queen Alexandra, Edward VII's widow, took a particular interest in establishing what had happened to the men, many of whom had been her employees. Many years later, a legend sprang up that they had disappeared in a massive cloud of unknown, supposedly supernatural, origin. However, after the Armistice
Armistice of Mudros
The Armistice of Moudros , concluded on 30 October 1918, ended the hostilities in the Middle Eastern theatre between the Ottoman Empire and the Allies of World War I...
, 180 bodies were found "scattered over an area of about one square mile, at a distance of at least 800 yards behind the Turkish front line."
This information was kept from Queen Alexandra as it was felt she would be too distressed at the news.
A watch belonging to Beck, given to him in 1915 by Sir Dighton Probyn VC, was recovered after the war. It was presented to his heirs in 1922 and remains in the family's possession.
Beck is commemorated on the Helles Memorial and with a brass plaque in the Church of St Mary Magdalene, Sandringham
Sandringham
Sandringham can refer to:Places*Sandringham, Johannesburg, a suburb of Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, South Africa*Sandringham, Norfolk, a village in Norfolk, England*Sandringham House in the aforementioned village, owned by the British Royal Family...
. He and the 18 other men from the company who died at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli are commemorated on the Sandringham war memorial cross and in West Newton parish church.
Beck was survived by his wife Mary Plumpton Wilson and their 5 daughters - their only son, Jack dying in infancy
In 1999, a film was made, entitled All the Kings Men, depicting the formation of the Sandringham company, its fate, and Beck's role in this. Beck was portrayed by David Jason
David Jason
Sir David John White, OBE , better known by his stage name David Jason, is an English BAFTA award-winning actor. He is best known as the main character Derek "Del Boy" Trotter on the BBC sit-com Only Fools and Horses from 1981, the voice of Mr Toad in The Wind In The Willows and as detective Jack...
.