Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of James Henry Beck a Railway Locomotive Driver, born 1853 at Weston on Trent, Derbyshire and his wife Isabella, born 1850 in Little Eaton, Derbyshire. Lancelot George was born in 1889 in Leicester, his siblings were James P., born 1881 in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, Rose M., born 1882 in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire and Harold W., born 1883 in Crewe, Cheshire, in March 1901 the family home was at Clematis Cottage, Park Road, Coalville, Leicestershire, this being situated within the Ecclesiastical Parish of Coalville, Christ Church. In April 1911 Lancelot was serving as a Private (Officers Mess Waiter) with the Leicestershire Regiment and was stationed at The Barracks, Saffron Lane, Glen Parva, Leicestershire. Lance’s formative years were spent at 71, Park Road, Coalville, Leics, Lance being educated at the Church School in Coalville, after leaving school he worked for a while in Coalville, later enlisting at Ashby de la Zouch as a regular soldier, he later moved to Leicester following his marriage where he gained employment in the machine room of the Leicester Mercury. He was mobilised on the 5th August 1914 and soon embarked for France with his Battalion, from the early summer of 1915 he was serving in the Ypres Salient, around Hooge and Sanctuary Wood, and it was in the St Jean sector of the Salient that Lance lost his life. The War Diary for the 18th December recorded that the Battalion had entered the trenches at Wieltje taking over from 2nd Bn. Sherwood Foresters (2nd Bn. Durham Light Infantry on right at Potijze, 9th Bn. Norfolk Regiment on our left. There was a gap of 150 yards on our right between us and the Durham Light Infantry, this belonged to the 18th Infantry Brigade who were responsible for patrols) Distribution A Coy B9 (right firing line). B Coy B 10 (left firing line). C Coy (support line) S.10.A. D Coy (support line) S.9.A. 2 Platoons. D Coy Canal bank 2 Platoons. 6 Machine gun positions and 8 Bomb posts. The entry for today read as follows:- Shelling continued all night 20th/21st till almost 7.00am when wind changed and went round to “SAFE” Germans at once stopped shelling. (Probably the Germans had intended giving us another gas attack after the bombardment had the wind held). Remainder of the 21st Dec was pretty quiet. Gunners estimate that Germans fired 400,000 shells into 6th Division area alone during the bombardment. These numbers of course included the batteries etc. in 6th Division area. Points to be noted re gas were (1) Gas very deadly. (2) Slightest defect in tube helmet is fatal – or almost fatal. (3) No time to be lost in putting helmets on. Two to five minutes was sufficient to kill a man who had lost his helmet. As the gas attack was expected (though date was unknown) all our bomb and listening posts in front line of trenches had been supplied with extra helmets so that one man could always wear a helmet. This precaution was needed because the gas travelled at such speed that men were almost overpowered at once. In fact men in the front line were about gassed before helmets could be got on so quick did the gas travel. Casualties 2nd Lt. S. Hubbard sick, 16 suffering from gas, 4 sick. Total Casualties 18th to the 21st A Coy 3 killed, 6 died of gas, 4 wounded, 53 suffering from gas. 3 sick. B Coy 9 wounded, 19 suffering from gas, 1 sick. C Coy 6 killed, 1 died of gas, 4 wounded, 6 suffering from gas, 1 sick. 3 missing. D Coy 2 wounded, 10 suffering from gas, 2 missing.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
The following information was kindly submitted to the project by C Burton in 2016:

"Lancelot enlisted on 19th April 1905 and declared his age as 18. In actual fact he was only 16. He was of a fresh complexion with grey eyes and light brown hair. He married Florence Violetta Baxter on the 30th September 1911. They had a daughter, Lydia Rose, born 19 June 1912 then in 1914 had another daughter on 12 March, Hilda Violet. Unfortunately, Hilda Violet died at the age of 6 months in early October 1914.
Lancelot was seriously wounded by a bullet to his left chest in September 1915."

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Article in the Coalville Times, 08/01/1915:

"COALVILLE TOMMY’S HUMOUR

NOT TROUBLED WITH THE BEER TAX

Lance-Corporal L. G. Beck, writing from France to his sister, Mrs L. Curtis, of 88 Albert Road, Coalville, intimates his promotion from private and says things have not been going amiss with them lately. “At present,” the letter continues, “I am sitting in my happy home – a hole dug out in a ditch – sludged up to the eyes but still smiling, and am not bothered with rent, rates, nor beer taxes (the latter underlined) and if I got sold up, the lot could be had for a packet of Woodbines. We have had plenty of rain lately which has left us rather uncomfortable. We have not had a wash, shave or change for a fortnight, so I will leave you to guess what we look like. I am getting quite proud of my whiskers and am going to give them a start up a beanstalk if I don’t have to part with them soon. Since I have been out here I have learnt enough French to get me into any asylum. You should hear us splutter. I get a look at the ‘Coalville Times’ from Sten Hardy and have got a Coalville policeman, Granger, in my company in case we have a row (Germans admitted free). We have had a few dust-ups with them. Some say they cannot shoot, but I have had my eyes filled (with dirt), dirty dogs, and gave them my blessing. But I think I levelled the score the next day, as I got a pot shot at one who went down without picking a soft spot to sit on. I counted ten, and he did not get up so I guess he was ‘out.’ It’s a fine game, “Hit ‘em and dodge ‘em,” but I shall not be sorry when it is over, as the excitement sometimes is not good for your health.”

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Article in the Coalville Times, 26/02/1915:

COALVILLE SOLDIER’S HUMOUR

AN INVITATION TO TEA

Lance-Corpl. Beck, writing from France on February 14th to Mrs L. Curtis, of No. 88, Albert Street, Coalville, says, “Just a few lines to let you know that I am still in the pink and hope this will find you all the same. I am sorry I have kept you waiting for a letter but I thought I had written before, but better late than never. We received parcels from the fund at Coalville today and the things will come in very handy. I see Pte. Edwards mentioned my name in the ‘Coalville Times’. He had better drop in for tea if he gets round our way any time, visiting hours; any time between dusk and dawn; he had better come round the back as the front road is a bit dangerous and kept for one sort of visitors. You would laugh to see us tracking in the trenches. We look like some rag and bone men with full kit and generally a sack slung on top with French busters (bread), and other oddments in the way of waist belt packing. It’s alright if you don’t drop in a “Jack” hole, if its your luck, I should not like to mention the things that are said. ______ keeps writing to tell me they are coming home on furlough, but I have not started to reckon my turn out yet, about 1918 I think. We had a bit warmer reception last time in. On the 4th they started shelling at about 7 pm. sending them over six at a time. Talk about “wasps,” they did buzz. They are nice fireworks if they are not too close. We got ready to do some work but they did not show up. I think they are long distance scrappers round our way, but we shall be at it when the weather clears up I expect. Well I will dry up now, lets hear soon and keep smiling.”

Coalville Times article - Friday February 26th, 1915

Another batch of letters and postcards have been received by Capt. Stevenson at the Coalville Recruiting Office from men at the front, expressing thanks for gifts which were provided from funds raised at two concerts at the Olympia in December. Appended are extracts from a few of them.

Was pleased to receive the parcel of comforts which I can assure you was greatly appreciated. Please give my best wishes and thanks to all Coalville friends. We are all in the best of spirits (a bit damp) but still smiling.

L-Corpl. L. Beck

Article in the Coalville Times, 14/01/1916:

"FORMER COALVILLE CORPORAL KILLED

OLD CHRIST CHURCH SCHOOLBOY

Corpl. L. G. Beck, of the 1st Leicesters, is officially reported to have been killed in action on December 21st. He was a son of the late Mr James Henry Beck, of 71, Park Road, Coalville, formerly an engine-driver on the Midland Railway, who died last year. Corpl. Beck attended the Coalville Christ Church School and after leaving there worked for a time in Coalville, but he subsequently went to Leicester, and before the war was engaged in the machine room at the office of the “Leicester Mercury.” His wife resides in Parliament Street, Leicester. He was 27 years of age and had been over a year at the front. His sister, Mrs Curtis, resides at 71, Park Road.

The deceased soldier had a most genial disposition and several amusing letters from him which appeared in our columns last year will probably be remembered by readers. In a letter recently received by Mrs Curtis from the deceased’s wife, the writer states that she has received her husband’s watch and his chums had written a nice letter saying they would send his other belongings as soon as they could."

Research undertaken and submitted (including photograph from the Coalville Times) by Andy Murby, September 2017.