Lieut Edmund Wallis Beck, Acting Adjutant of the 8th Bedfordshire Regiment, died of wounds in hospital at Boulogne on January 9th, 1916. He had been seriously wounded near Ypres on December 19th, 1915, while giving warning of a gas attack. He was aged 26, born in Poona, India, on July 27th, 1889.

Before leaving England, Lieut Beck represented his regiment while dining with the King and Queen. He was educated at Bracondale School, Norwich, and Wellingborough, where he was captain of the 1st eleven, and he shot at Bisley for his school.

He entered the bank of Messrs Barclay & Co at Luton and, while engaged there under Mr G. H. Latchmore, he won the prize offered by the Institute of Bankers for an essay on political economy. Subsequently he became an assistant master at the Hall, Sydenham. He joined the 8th Bedford Regiment and went through the battle of Loos.

Lieut Beck was the eldest and only surviving son of the late Mr Percy Charles Beck, of Poona [India] and Mrs Alice Mary Beck, of Hillcrest, Hart Hill, Luton.

His younger brother, Second Lieut Percy Latham Beck, born April 14th, 1891, Royal Engineers, was killed at Ypres on March 6th, 1915, and was buried at Ramparts Cemetery, Lille Gate. Both brothers are commemorated on the Luton Roll of Honour.