Journal of Louis Beck “Mountainholme”, Heatonville via Awaba NSW : Surveying experiences in Mr C.F. Napier's camp from 6th June 1912

Charles Louis Beck was born in 1893 to James Beck and Minerva Rodgers. He was the 5th of seven children - six sons and one daughter.The family lived at a property called Mountainholme at the end of Becks Road, Freemans Waterhole,

This journal covers the period 6th June to 4th October 1912, and outlines his experiences surveying land in the southern part of Lake Macquarie and the central coast for C F Napier North. Charles Frederick Napier North was a noted surveyor, and the first engineer for Lake Macquarie Shire Council in 1906.

From details of the gruelling workdays, sometimes dangerous activities, recalcitrant cattle and descriptions of the scenery, its pages make interesting reading.

War Service

Four of the Beck brothers enlisted in World War one, with one being killed in action.

Victor David: Born in 1891, Victor enlisted 28/5/1915 aged 24 years and 4 months. His service records shows that he served in France and was awarded the Military medal on 23/6/17. He returned to Australia on 12/6/1919.

Claude William: Born in 1892. Claude enlisted on 21/12/1915 aged 23 years 5 months. His service records show that he served in France before he died of wounds in France on 6 March 1917, aged 24. He is buried in Trois Arbres Cemetery, Steenwerck, France.

Charles Louis: Born in 1893, Louis enlisted on 10/3/1916 aged 22 years 9 months. His service records show that he served in France before returning to Australia in November 1919

Athol Glenmitchel: Born in 1897, Athol enlisted on 9/4/1915 aged 18 years 2 months. His service records show that he served in Gallipoli and France and was wounded two times in the course of the conflict. He returned to Australia on 30/1/1918.

This work by Lake Macquarie City Library is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License