Alexander Beck

Known as Alex he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross from Royal Flying Corps in WW1. Having shot down an enemy aeroplane and walking into no man's land to retrieve part of the wing, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was very highly regarded by the Patrol.

Experimenting with some explosives, Sergeant Beck caused a blast large enough to damage a cottage and bring the Hay Civil Defence Corps running.

Alexander Beck was the son of George Moreland Beck (1863 - 1945) and Grace Margaret. The father, George, oscillated between this country and Argentina where he had a ranch. In fact, Alex travelled, with his parents, to Buenos Aires in the late 1918 (this was after his service in the RFC with the ultimate rank of Captain). In 1930, in the UK, he married Joan Prudence Picton-Warlow, who was born in Ceylon where her father was a tea planter. In 1911 her entire family were living in Breconshire and her father was described as a retired tea planter. By 1932 the new Mrs Beck was making a name as the breeder of Alsatians at the Letton Court Kennels. In 1954 Alex travelled alone to Buenos Aires and returned two years later, at the age of 58, to farm at Lower Heyford.