James Raymond Titley Beckett was born in 1897 at Oswestry; he was the only child of James and Emma Beckett. He went by his middle name ‘Raymond’ rather than James, also, ‘Titley’ was his mother’s maiden name. His father worked in a saw mill and later for Cambrian Railways as a coach trimmer. They lived at 75 Albert Road, Oswestry. After leaving school James started work at the Co-op stores on an apprenticeship to be a grocer, he later moved to work at the Canteen Stores at Park Hall Camp.

He enlisted in December 1915 having turned 18 two months earlier. His Army papers suggest he was very likely a Derby Scheme man and was put on the Reserve list. He was mobilised in May 1916 but then seems to have been deferred. He was re-mobilised in January 1917 when he joined the 23 Bn Royal Welsh Fusiliers, a home service and reserve battalion. After training he went over to France at the end of December 1917, posted to 1/ 4 Bn RWF, B Company. He joined the battalion in rest camp at Senlis-le-Sec to the north west of Albert.

Unidentified men at training camp, one is believed to be James.

James was killed in action on 22 March 1918 during Operation Michael, the opening phase of the Kaiser Offensive. The battalion had been in billets at Léchelle and were ordered forward when the offensive began and took up positions near to Metz en Couture in the Somme sector. On 22 March the battalion had withdrawn back to Léchelle. On this day the battalion casualties were 1 Officer and 7 other ranks wounded and 6 other ranks KIA. James was at first buried on the battlefield and was later re-interned at Gordon Dump Cemetery at Ovillers La Boiselle. He is also commemorated on the war memorial at St Oswald’s Church, Oswestry.

See also Captain T C Wynne Minshall, 1/4 Bn Royal Welsh Fusiliers. DoW 25 March 1918, Gordon Dump Cemetery, Ovillers-La-Boiselle

Acknowledgements

References & Sources

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