From Chatham Dockyard to World Cup Glory: Uncovering David Beckham’s Family History
From Chatham Dockyard to World Cup Glory: Uncovering David Beckham’s Family History
As part of the ongoing research into the Police Section House at Chatham Dockyard, the volunteer researchers have uncovered an unexpected link between Chatham Dockyard and renowned footballer David Beckham.
David’s grandfather, great-grandfather, Edward (Ted) Charles Beckham, joined the Navy and was based at Chatham. He rose to the rank of Chief Petty Officer, whilst his great-uncle John (Jack) joined the Marines in November 1914 at the age of 16.
Neither of the two surviving Beckham brothers seemed to be put off by earlier family tragedy, and both later went to sea. Edward (Ted) went on to join the Navy and was based at Chatham; he rose to the rank of Chief Petty Officer, whilst John (Jack) joined the Marines, signing up in November 1914 at the age of 16.
Great-grandfather AT CHATHAM
Ted did not join the Navy until halfway through the First World War, in March 1917 and was based at Chatham.
After going through training, he was assigned to HMS MALTA in February 1918. She was a veteran of the Battle of Jutland, which took place over two days — 31 May to 1 June 1916 — in the North Sea, near the coast of Denmark. It involved a series of complex fleet manoeuvres before clashing in three bouts of direct combat. It was the biggest naval battle of the war and the only time both sides sent their full fleets of battleships against each other. The Royal Navy took firm control of the North Sea, denying the German surface fleet access to the Atlantic for the remainder of the war.
By the time Ted joined the crew, MALTA was mostly employed in routine patrols.
Unlike his older brother, John, Ted stayed in the Navy after the War, and the census held in June 1921 shows him on board HMS SHAMROCK, anchored at Chatham Dockyard.
Ted was described as fair-haired and blue-eyed; his short stature (about 5 feet 4 inches tall) did not prevent him from having a successful career – he was promoted to Petty Officer in 1927 and Chief Petty Officer, 10 years later.
Great Uncle’s Service
John went through a series of training establishments before joining HMS CHAMPION as a signal boy in December 1915 and was later transferred to HMS SOUTHAMPTON, where he was promoted to ordinary signalman in early April 1916. The ship was heavily involved in the Battle of Jutland from 31st May to 1st June 1916, sinking German torpedo boat S35 (with the loss of all hands) and SMS FRAUENLOB, a light cruiser, from which over 300 died, with only nine survivors.
John Beckham was demobbed on 7th June 1921 and soon found employment as a bus conductor. He married Rose Elizabeth Beeching on 30th June 1923 at the church of St Mark in Walworth and lived for many years at Charleston Street, Southwark. The couple do not appear to have had any children.
Beckham Brothers in the Second World War
Ted served in the Second World War and had a number of close escapes.
He was serving on HMS ARETHUSA in July 1940 and took part in the raid at Mers el Kebir, Algeria, where the Royal Navy attacked and destroyed much of the French fleet to prevent it from falling into enemy hands.
Sadly, their younger brother, Thomas, was not so lucky and was killed when HM Tug St Issey was torpedoed by a U-boat in 1942.
During the early days of the Second World War, a Royal Marine Special Reserve was established to police Chatham Dockyard.
This consisted of men generally in their 40s and 50s, deemed too old for military service. One of these recruits, shown on the 1939 Register in the Police Section House, was 41-year-old John Beckham, ever eager to “do his bit”. After the Second World War, John and his wife, Rose, settled down to married life at Munton Road, Southwark, where they lived for many years until John died in early 1962 at the age of 64.
Beckham Family Legacy
Ted eventually left the Royal Navy at the end of 1951 at the age of 50.
He married Queenie Violet Eldridge in 1924 and had three children (Aubrey Edward, 1925; Ronald Arthur, 1929; Peter Charles, 1934). Ted died in 1974, the year before his great-grandson, David Beckham was born.
It is quite sobering to realise that if Ted hadn’t been saved from drowning by Scoutmaster Marsh and the coastguard in 1912, there would have been no David Beckham.
Tragedy Strikes
Ted and John’s childhood was marred by the tragic involvement of a Scouts’ camping trip that resulted in the death of their brother, William.
The scout movement, founded by Lord Baden-Powell in 1907, provided an escape for working-class boys looking for adventure and excitement.
John, William and Ted all joined the 2nd Walworth Scout Group and on 3rd August 1912, 24 scouts from the troupe, accompanied by five adults, set off for a fortnight’s camping break on the Isle of Sheppey.
For the first part of the journey, the boys rowed from Southwark to Tower Bridge on a cutter with a dinghy trailing behind, and then hoisted the sail for the rest of the journey down the Thames.
Boat Capsized
After spending the night on board the cutter off Erith, the boys set off for the final part of the journey and William Beckham, deemed the best sailor, was given control of the mainsheet (the rope controlling the mainsail). As they approached Leysdown on the eastern side of the Isle of Sheppey, the boat was caught by a sudden squall and heeled over, plunging the boys into the water.
The lifeboat was launched immediately, and Scoutmaster Sydney Marsh worked tirelessly to rescue as many boys as he could, but nine lads, including William Beckham, lost their lives.
John Beckham was rescued from the side of the upturned barge, holding his younger brother Ted’s hand.
Coastguard and AFTERMATH
The surviving boys were looked after by the coastguards’ wives and given beef tea. A Daily Mirror reporter described John as “a fair-haired, blue-eyed little chap” who was “as happy as a sandboy”.
The following day, when the tide had receded, the boys helped in the search for their dead comrades. Winston Churchill, the First Lord of the Admiralty, ordered HMS FERVENT, a naval destroyer, to bring the bodies home. The surviving scouts were given the task of delivering the coffins, draped in Union Flags, to the ship.
Coming just a few months after the TITANIC disaster, the tragedy caused a big public response, and an estimated million people lined the streets to watch the deceased being taken to their final resting place in Nunhead Cemetery.
With thanks to volunteer researcher, Alan, for your hard work in compiling this story.
