Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Thomas Martin BEATTY and Hester nee MOORE

William James BEATTY was born December 17th, 1890, in Mitcham, South Australia. He enlisted in the AIF on May 27th, 1915. Before his enlistment, William lived in New Parkside, South Australia, with his mother, Mrs Hester Marie BEATTY and worked as a motor driver. William’s two younger brothers, Robert Scott BEATTY, and Thomas George BEATTY had also enlisted in the AIF albeit at different times. The former enlisted the year after William, the latter before; unfortunately, only Thomas George BEATTY returned alive. Enlisting at the age of 24 and 6 months with no prior military experience, William was unmarried, and a Roman Catholic. William was assigned to the 8th Reinforcement for the 10th Infantry Battalion (3rd brigade, 1st AIF Division) upon enlistment.

Measured and weighed at 173 cm and 73kg, William was described to have a dark complexion, with blue eyes and dark hair.

William James BEATTY embarked on the H.M.A.T P.&O. (Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company) "Morea" on August 26th, 1916, for Europe. William briefly stopped in Madras (now known as Chennai), a city on the British Raj's (India) east coast. While at Madras, William was admitted with Bronchitis, on November 18th. William was also transferred from the 8th Reinforcement Battalion to the main 10th Infantry Battalion on November 27th and was officially placed on active duty shortly after.

On February 26th, 1916, the main force of the 10th Infantry Battalion arrived in British-controlled Egypt, returning from the failed Gallipoli campaign, to resupply and rest. Two months later, on April 3rd, William would join the British Expeditionary Force, in Alexandria. However, the exact date of Williams's arrival in Egypt is undocumented.

After the 10th Infantry Battalion's momentary rest in Egypt, the Battalion relocated to the Western Front, arriving in Marseilles, a port city in southern France, on April 3rd. After arriving, the 10th Battalion was only provided a short rest at the ‘Nursery’ in Flanders, a region in northern Belgium (nicknamed so because of its role in introducing new troops to trench warfare.) The 10th Battalion then relocated to Pozieres, where they fought between the 22nd and 25th of July along with the rest of the 1st  AIF Division (consisting of the 10th Battalion), 2nd, and 4th Division.

After receiving reinforcements after Pozieres, the 1st Division was reassigned to Mouquet Farm. The 10th Battalion was ordered on August 19th to secure the land the previous troops had claimed, by pushing the German lines backwards. However, the fortified and reinforced German line made advancements slow and costly for the ANZAC troops. The 10th Battalion would eventually be ordered to relocate on August 23rd. After leaving Pozieres, William would be reported to have a sprained ankle the day after on August 23rd 1916.  

He would later rejoin his Battalion on October 3rd. For a sizable amount of time after his discharge from the hospital, the 10th Battalion would not participate in any major offensive. William was appointed Lance Corporal on November 24th 1916. He was admitted to hospital with a blistered heel on February 10th, 1917, and transferred to the hospital in England on the 4th March and diagnosed with trench feet soon after.

On March 30th, William was be transferred from the 1st London General Hospital to Tooting Grove Military Hospital, also admitted under Trench Feet. In late April, William would be discharged from Tooting Hospital, and temporarily transferred to the 70th Battalion on May 1st.

On June 2nd, William was penalised for obscene language to his Officer, subsequently losing his rank of Lance Corporal.

On October 9th, William embarked from England along with the 69th Draft Battalion to reinforce the 10th Battalion. He was taken on strength 16th October 1917.

William would be admitted to the hospital for sickness on January 9th, 1918 and later the day after with a sprained ankle. He would later rejoin his Battalion from the hospital on February 2nd. On the 16th, William would once again be promoted to Lance Corporal, however, on the April 9th, he would be penalised, this time for Absence from a parade and falling out of line while in march.  His punishment was his recent promotion being reverted once again.

From March to April, the 10th Battalion would be in combat, deployed near Hollebeke and then Meteren in Belgium. However, this time it would be on the defensive in the area, fighting against recently relieved German troops from the eastern front. It would be during this time, that James William BEATTY would be reported wounded and missing on April, 24th 1918. After the war, the date would become William’s official date of death.

According to eyewitnesses, William was killed between Midnight and daybreak of the 24th, after hopping out of the trench line, he was shot about 180m out in the side of the body while descending a hill, falling into no-mans-land. William would be moved back to the 10th Battalion lines, badly wounded, where his injuries were dressed. Unfortunately, the tending was not enough, as he was later found dead, lying at the dressing station.

William James BEATTY was buried on November 30th, 1918, at the Meteren Military Cemetery in France. (Plot I, Row H, Grave No. 213).