Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

From Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery
 
Let us remember a Fallen soldier of The Great War awaiting memorialisation at Sandgate Cemetery.

On the 27th October 1917, Private William Henry Beattie, referred to as Harry and Yarrie, 2nd Battalion (Reg No-1317), miner from West Wyalong, New South Wales, father of one (Catherine Margaret Schadel, born 1913, Sydney, N.S.W., died 17.12.1942, Mayfield, N.S.W., age 29, father William Herbert Brady, sleeping at CATHOLIC 2-63. 96), was Killed in Action during the 2nd Battle of Passchendaele, Belgium, age 30. Cause of death unknown.

No Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing File.

Born at Temora, New South Wales on the ? ? 1886 to Thomas Henry (died 19.5.1930, West Wyalong, N.S.W., age 74, buried at West Wyalong General Cemetery, no photo of gravesite, has Harry and Clarrie been memorialised?), and Sarah Anne Beattie nee Arnold (died 18.6.1944, West Wyalong, N.S.W., age 85, no photo of gravesite, has Harry and Clarrie been memorialised?) from Welcome Street, West Wyalong, N.S.W.; husband of Margaret Lillian Beattie nee Schadel (married 21.1.1915, Sydney, N.S.W., died 13.6.1955, Mayfield, N.S.W., not 1954, 37 years a widow) of "Hillside", Elizabeth Street, Tighes Hill, N.S.W. and "Arwon", 13 Frith Street, Mayfield West, N.S.W., Harry enlisted on the 25th November 1914 at Liverpool, N.S.W.

Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A48 Seang Bee on the 11th February 1915.

Admitted to hospital 17.11.1916 (bronchitis), 15.1.1917 (influenza), 10.2.1917 (trench fever & debility).

Wounded in action - 25.7.1916 (SW left arm & shell shock, Battle of Pozieres).

See Trove link: photo of George Edward Schadel, 1st Australian Light Horse Regiment, Reg No-1661, labourer from "Hillside", Elizabeth Street, Tighes Hill, New South Wales, KIA 14.7.1918, age 29, memorialised at Sandgate Cemetery - CATHOLIC 2-32. 40, brother in law to Harry.

Mr. Beattie is resting at Belgian Battery Corner Cemetery, Belgium. Plot II Row H Grave 9.

See photo of temporary grave marker which reads 2 Battalion AIF, 27.10.1917, 1317 Private William Henry Beattie of West Wyalong, NSW. Killed in Belgium on the 27th October 1917.

Also 6045 Corporal John Thomas Lang of Uranquinty, NSW. Killed in Belgium on the 27th October 1917.
3508 Lance Corporal George Robert Douglas of Coonabarabran, NSW. Killed in Belgium on the 27th October 1917. 2050 Lance Corporal Clarence Frederick Neasham of Bathurst, NSW. Killed in Belgium on the 27th October 1917. 3999 Private Bertie Alwyn Osborn of Mysia, Victoria. Killed in Belgium on the 27th October 1917. 2426 Lance Corporal James Hunter of Narellan, NSW. Killed in Belgium on the 27th October 1917.

Many thanks to Eddy Lin for the headstone photos.
Place of Association – West Wyalong, New South Wales, Australia.

Harry’s name has been inscribed on the Wyalong District Roll of Honor and the West Wyalong-St. Barnabas' Church Roll of Honour. Name not inscribed on the Wyalong Soldiers Memorial or the Temora and District War Memorial. Name possibly inscribed on the Tighes Hill Roll of Honour (linen, over 200 names) made by Miss Blanch Buck.

Unfortunately, there is no memorial inscription on the headstone plaque for Margaret Lillian Beattie to tell us of the loss of her husband during The Great War, and I am unable to erect a Memorial cross adorned with poppies at the gravesite, so I have placed poppies in remembrance of Harry’s service and supreme sacrifice for God, King & Country. CATHOLIC 2-63. 96.

Younger brother Clarence Minto Beattie (referred to as Clarrie, born 21.8.1892, Temora, New South Wales, parents Thomas Henry and Sarah Ann Beattie (or Sarah A. Johnson of Maitland Street, West Wyalong, N.S.W.), tailor from West Wyalong, New South Wales, enlisted 5.7.1915, 19th Battalion, Reg No-2111, KIA 26.7.1916, Battle of Pozieres, age 23, resting at Pozieres British Cemetery, Ovillers-La Boisselle, France, Plot I Row H Grave 3.

Younger brother Francis George Arnold Beattie (Frank, born 16.9.1890, Temora, New South Wales, parents Thomas Henry and Sarah Ann Beattie (or Sarah A. Johnson of Maitland Street, West Wyalong, N.S.W.), plumber from Maitland Street, West Wyalong, N.S.W., enlisted 25.11.1914, an Original Anzac, 7th Australian Light Horse Regiment, Reg No-760, RTA 3.8.1919, also served WW2, enlisted 8.4.1941, Newcastle, N.S.W., 39th Fortress Coy., Australian Engineers, N87985, discharged medically unfit 30.6.1943, died 17.11.1967, Newtown, N.S.W., age 77, not officially commemorated) also served 1st A.I.F. Frank's name mentioned as one of the workman who was employed to build the Power's Royal Hotel, West Wyalong. Also mentions the Stephenson brothers Harry James & John Christian who both fell during the war and are memorialised at their parent's gravesite at Sandgate Cemetery - ANGLICAN 1-19. 98.

Contact with descendants would be greatly appreciated.

For more detail, see “Forever Remembered “
http://www.commemoratingwarheroes.com/cemetery-main-search/

Lest We Forget.