Carl BECK

Year of Birth: 1896

Place of Birth: Mareeba, Queensland

Date of Enlistment: 22 February 1917

Date and Place of Embarkation: 9 May 1917, Sydney NSW

Ship: HMAT Port Sydney A15

Rank: Private/Trooper

Unit(s): 2nd Australian Light Horse Regiment – 21 to 30 Reinforcements

Regimental Number: 3349

Died: 31 October 1917

 

Carl Beck, was born 14 December 1895 to Carl Beck senior, a Cabinet Maker in Mareeba, and Augusta Petrine Pedersen.  Augusta was born in Norway and Carl Beck senior was born in Germany. Carl Beck senior and Augusta had another son, Hans Beck born 1894.  Augusta Petrine Pedersen married Harold Ingvard Josef Ferninand Hoffensetz in 1872 in Queensland. They had 10 children who were half siblings to Carl Beck; Julius Elandorf born 1872, Ida Sophia 1875, Arthur Victor 1877, Harold John 1879, Einar Otto 1881, Jutha Victoria 1883, Ingebourg 1886, Omega Miranda 1890, James Harold 1891 and Ivy 1892.

Carl’s mother Augusta died 4 January 1926 in Halifax Queensland.  His mother’s understanding of English caused many problems when the Australian Imperial Force tried to communicate with her regarding next of kin and memorial.  On his enlistment in Cairns, Carl Beck was residing at Warrego Street, Parramatta Park, Cairns, his age was 21 years 2 months, occupation was a miner and gave his next of kin as his father Mr Carl Beck, Warrego Street, Queensland.  His height was 5 feet 7 inches, weighed 154 pounds with dark complexion, brown eyes and black hair.  His religion was Methodist.  Carl attended school in Atherton.  In his will he left all of his possession to his sister Ivy, who had married William Albert Cockrem in 1913.

Trooper Carl Beck was killed in action at Beersheba, Palestine, Turkey on the 31 October 1917 and buried at Beersheba Military Cemetery.  The battle of Beersheba was the last great cavalry charge and one of the greatest victories for the Allies in the Middle East.  It involved hundreds of mounted Australian troops from the Australian Light Horse who stormed enemy lines to capture the town of Beersheba.

 

 

HMAT Port Sydney A15 – formery HMAT Star of England – photo courtesy Australian War Memorial

 

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NAA: B2455

 

 

 

Online Resources

Queensland Birth Death & Marriage Index

Photograph of the: HMAT Port Sydney A15, Australian War Memorial

NAA: B2455,Carl Beck, National Archives of Australia

Carl Beck, Australian War Memorial

The charge of the 4th Light Horse Brigade at Beersheba

Other Resources

Gail Dudeck Collection

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