Derrick Beckwith

This story and photos are shared by the Trust with kind permission from Mavis Williams, Researcher.

Derrick Beckwith was born on the 27th of December 1924, the only child of Douglas Arthur & Lily Margaret Beckwith (née Shipman), and was baptised on the 8th of February 1925 at St. Mary’s Church, Sheffield. Their address was 27, Fieldhead Road, Sheffield, and Douglas’ occupation was Shipping Clerk. Douglas is seen on the 1921 census, living with his parents and was employed as a Railway Clerk for the Midland Railway Goods Dept., at Queens Road, Sheffield. The same census records that Lily was also living with her parents and was working as a Female Clerk for the Hardy Patent Pick Co. Ltd., Little London Road, Sheffield.

Douglas Beckwith and Lily Shipman married in the September quarter of 1924 in the Wharfedale Registration District, West Riding of Yorkshire. We see Derrick Beckwith for the first and only time on a census or Official Document on the 1939 National Register which was taken on the 29th of September 1939. He is living with his parents at 2, Gregg House, Road, Sheffield. His father, Douglas Beckwith was working as a Railway Clerk, Lily Beckwith was working as a Civil Nurse, A.R.P. Paid Duty, Nursing Auxiliary Service and Derrick Beckwith, who had been born on his mother Lily’s birthday, the 27th of December 1924, was single and working as a Shoe Shop Assistant. He was 14 years old.

Sadly, I have no other information on Derrick Beckwith, neither his early or teen years although I think this is him, mentioned in the Sheffield Daily Telegraph of 02 May 1929.

A Derrick Beckwith attended Denby Street Nursery School and the report states he crowned the May Queen, Marjorie Wilson.

I do not know when Derrick Beckwith was to enlist or was conscripted but he was to find himself fighting on D-Day and laid down his life for our freedom. He was serving with 6th Battalion, Green Howards who landed on Gold Beach on D-Day. After landing, they attacked strong points and the gun positions in Mont Fleury. They completed their first objective by midday and moved through Ver-sur-Mer towards Crépon. But they encountered German resistance as they approached Crépon. D Company was tasked with clearing the Germans from the village whilst the other platoons by-passed it.

The British Army Casualty List records that Derrick died of wounds on 6th June 1944. He was first buried in Crepon before being reinterred in Ryes British Cemetery on the 20th February 1945. The loss of their only child would have been devastating for Douglas and Lily, but they were to live long lives and died within a few years of each other.

British Normandy Memorial - Additional Information

Unfortunately, we do not have a photo of Derrick Beckwith. If you are aware of one, or you are related to Derrick, we would love to hear from you so we can add to his story.