Biography

KILLED IN ACTION 4 APRIL 1945

James Beck (1918 - 1945) was born in Launceston, the son of Frank Washington and Margaret A. Beck. James was the grandson of’ James Beck” who emigrated from Sussex in 1883. James attended the Trevallyn Primary School and the State High School, Launceston and entered the firm of chartered accountants, Layh, Hart & Room.

He was greatly interested in music and drama and played a lot of tennis. When he was small the family attended St. Oswald’s Church and later were members of St. John’s.

He enlisted in the R.A.A.F. in World War II and was awarded the D.F.C. He was killed in action over Germany on 4th April 1945. At St. Oswald’s and St. John’s memorials were erected by his family: at St. Oswald’s a brass ewer for the font and at St. John’s a brass plaque and a stained-glass window featuring ‘Michael the Archangel’. The inscriptions are as follows:
Ewer:

TO THE GLORY OF GOD

AND IN MEMORY OF

FlO JAMES BECK D.F.C.

Plaque:

A.M.D.G.

AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF

FLYING OFFICER JAMES BECK D.F.C. R.A.A.F.

KILLED IN OPERATIONS OVER GERMANY BURIED AT ITTERBACH, HOLLAND ERECTED BY HIS FAMILY

Window:

A.M.D.G.

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

FlO JAMES BECK D.F.C. AGED 27

KILLED IN ACTION

ERECTED BY HIS FAMILY

Source