Middleton Beckett's Story

would you lie to do the one thing you'd always wanted?

Middleton Beckett always wanted to be a soldier, and he wasn’t going to take no for an answer, even if that meant lying about his age.

These photographs were taken at William Berry’s studio on Cuba St in Wellington. Berry took photos of nearly eighty soldiers before they left for war, but the negatives were lost for almost 100 years before the 'Berry Boys' collection was rediscovered.

Soldiers often had professional photos taken with their family before they embarked. For some it was the last picture of them taken, and they became treasured mementos for families and friends.

Middleton Beckett’s were a bit different, because he was only eighteen when they were taken.

The minimum age for a soldier to serve overseas was twenty.

Beckett tried to enlist as soon as the war broke out, but he was rejected for being too young. When he moved to Christchurch he saw it as a chance to try again - this time he lied on his forms and said he was two years older than he actually was.

He was only nineteen when he died of wounds.

Uncover more pieces of Middleton's story.

Can you find out Middleton's actual birthday?

Middleton was desperate to go to war. He volunteered for service at the outbreak of war, but was rejected as being too young.  In May 1915 he tried again, falsifying his age by two years, and was enlisted in the newly formed Rifle Brigade. Find Middleton's birthdate on Births, Deaths and Marriages and compare it with the one that he claims is his on his attestation (Page 15 of his Archway File)

THERE IS LOTS OF EVIDENCE OF MIDDLETON'S FATHER'S COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN THE TAKAPAU AREA

Mr W M Beckett was one of the first Pakeha settlers in the Hawkes Bay area and he felt the weight of responsibility to contribute to the communities of each of the towns (Ormondville, Norsewood and Takapau) in which he lived. Middleton's father was a great starter of societies, donator of trophies and member of boards. Use Papers Past and search for Middleton's father (W.M Middleton). Order the list by date and make a list of the societies, clubs and events that Middleton is involved in over time.

the berry boys - who were they and why were they special?

Between 1914 and 1918, dozens of photographs were taken of young men before their departure overseas by the photographer William Berry, who had established his photography business in 1897. The Berry studio established a reputation as the city's finest portrait photographs. In the 1990s, many of these photographs were found in a cupboard by one of the tenants of 147 Cuba Street, Wellington, the former premises of Berry & Co. Middleton's portrait was one of those found all those years later. Watch The Berry Boys and understand how the story unfolded from there.

Help solve the Unsolved Mystery

how did the island bay community honour nurse helen beckett? 

The Island Bay community when they lost their beloved Nurse Helen decided to erect a memorial in her honour . Use Papers Past and search for 'Nurse Beckett Memorial'. What was the memorial the community eventually erected in her honour.  Can you find evidence that the Memorial was ever unveiled?