Private Arthur Patrick Beattie 30532

Arthur P Beattie

Identification

The name given on the memorial is Arthur P Beattie. The CWGC had two results for A.P. Beattie and only one of them was called Arthur. The certificate showed that he was in the King's Liverpool Regiment (KLR) so he looked like a good candidate.

The medal card and UK Soldiers Died in the Great War (SDIGW) entry tallied and gave his middle name as Patrick.

Family information

The birth of Arthur Patrick Beatty was registered in Liverpool in 1880.  His parents were John Beatty and Winifred (formerly Halligan)

In the 1881 census, when Arthur was 5 months old (which means he was born around November 1880)  the family were lodging at 80 Aspinall St, John Beatty was working as a Railway Porter. The household also consisted of the Oak family (5 people, Mary Oak head of the household) and Maria Haddon, another boarder (Aged 40, born Norfolk, married)

Arthur’s mother, Winifred, died in 1890, on the death index her surname is spelled Beattie. I have not yet found an 1891 census record for John and Arthur.

In the 1901 census John and Arthur were boarders at 8 house 22 court Hampton St, the only other occupant was Louisa Wright a 46 year old widow from Birmingham (presumeably their landlady) John was listed as a widower and both he and Arthur were working as general labourers.

In 1902 Arthur Patrick Beattie married Martha Jane Dunn in Liverpool. They had the following children together:

John Beattie b 1904

William Alexander Beattie b 1907

Arthur Beattie b 1909 d 1937

Peter Beattie b 1911    d 29 Sept 1999

In the 1911 census Arthur and Martha Jane with their sons John, William and Arthur were living at 86 St Arnaud St. The census shows that these 3 sons were the only children surviving from 6.  Peter was born after the April census.

Arthur as working as a 'labourer electric works' for Liverpool Corporation.

Military 

Arthur's military service records have not survived. He was with the 4th Battalion The King's (Liverpool Regiment). His medal card shows that he went to France on 7th December 1915 and was eligible for the 1915 medal as well as the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.

Kathy Donaldson of "Liverpool Soldiers" has transcribed an entry for Arthur P Beattie in a wounded list published on 15th Jan 1917. The lists were published 4-5 weeks after the event so Arthur was probably wounded mid-late December 1916. He was reported Killed in Action so it would seem that he recovered from his injuries and returned to his regiment for a short time. 


At the time of his death, the 4th Battalion were part of the 33rd Division which was taking part in the Battles of Arras.

The day of Arthur Beattie's death in action was the opening day of the Second Battle of the Scarpe. 

An image of Arthur P Beattie's medal card. Source: Ancestry.co.uk Commemoration Arthur Patrick Beattie's entry in UK Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-1919. Name: Arthur Patrick Beattie Birth Place: Liverpool Death Date: 23 April 1917 Death Location:     France & Flanders Enlistment location: Liverpool Rank: Private Regiment: King’s (Liverpool Regiment) Battalion: 4th Number: 30532 Type of casualty: Killed in Action Theatre of War: Western European Theatre Family Notice in the local paper Arthur's photograph was published in the Liverpool Echo on 18th May 1917 with a family notice which read: FORMER BOOTH EMPLOYEE Pte. A.P. Beattie. K.L.R., has been killed in action. He resided at 63, Laxey St, Par-road. Before joining the army, he was employed in the Booth Steamship Line. He leaves a widow and four children. Pte Beattie has no known grave, he is commemorated on the Arras Memorial (France) click here to view his entry on the CWGC website. Arras Memorial. Copyright Amanda Taylor 2007 Click here to visit the CWGC page about the Arras Memorial Liverpool Hall of Remembrance Arthur P Beattie's name appears twice in the Hall of Remembrance at Liverpool Town Hall.

Stoker First Class, William Beattie

William Beattie

Identification:

There were 21 results for William Beattie on the CWGC database and 15 for W Beattie. I looked at the 'other information' on the CWGC to rule out men from other places then cross-referenced with the UK soldiers died in the great war and UK Royal Navy and Royal Marine War Graves Roll to identify men who were from Liverpool. This gave me 2 possibilities, one in the navy and one in the army.

Of these two men, one lived in the area of St James' church. I know this isn't a perfect identification but unless I find otherwise, here are his details:

Family Information

On his Naval Service Record William Beattie's date of birth is recorded as 3rd July 1889 in Liverpool, I haven't been able to find a corresponding record on the Births Index. 

Information added to his entry in Royal Naval Division Casualties of the Great War 1914-1924 (transcript below) shows that his father was John Beattie of 56c Northumberland St.


In the 1911 census, William was enumerated on the battleship "Mars" in Weymouth Bay.

Other information shows that in 1914 his next-of-kin was listed as Mrs Elizabeth Throwell, an aunt living at 33 Hughson St and she received William's 1914 Star in 1919.

Naval Service

On 25th September 1908 William signed up for the navy as a Special Service Rating [i.e. Short Service] he signed up for five years with the RN [Official No. SS107737] & seven years with the Royal Fleet Reserve [B/5376].

His record shows that William was born on 3 July 1889 in Liverpool, his occupation was Scaler and this was his first engagement. 

He was 5ft 3 1/2 inches tall with a 35 inch test. His hair was dark brown, eyes dark blue and complexion fresh. He had a scar on his right cheek.

William's service record show that his time with the Royal Navy was spent as follows:

Ship etc	Rating	Dates	Character
Vivid II	Stoker 2nd class	25/9/1908 – 19/2/09	V.G. 31.12.08
Isis		20 Feb 1909	V.G. 12.09.09 G
Isis	Stoker 1st class	25/9/09 – 03/10/10	V.G. 31.12.10 V.G.
Vivid II		04/10/10 – 11/01/11	V.G. 31.12.11 SAT
Mars		12/01/11 – 1/1/12	V.G. 31.12.12 SUP
Orion		02/01/12 – 13/09/13
Vivid II		14/09/13 – 20/09/13	V.G        SAT
If Discharged, whither and for what cause:   SHORE RFR
Transferred to RFR Devonport 5376 21 Sept 1913
Vivid II	Stoker 1	2/8/1914 – 14/9/14	V.G. 31.12.14
Victory IV (RND Howe)	Stoker 1	15/09/1914 – 03/6/15
If Discharged, whither and for what cause:   DD
N.P. 4982/15 & NP 5067/15 D.D. 4 June ‘15 Killed in action in Dardanelles (Howe Battalion)

"remarks" 
N.P. 31/6/15 Missing during operations in Dardanelles (Howe Battalion) Sept '15 ledger.
For service in R.N.Division see N.(?) 142/25

His discharge card for the Royal Fleet Reserve/Naval Division gives the following information:

1914 STAR                                       DISCHARGED DD WILLIAM BEATTIE                                                        B/5376 Number: DEV/SS/107737/RFR/5376   Branch of Service: R.F.R.
Rank or Rating: Sto.1st.cl.
Private address: (blank) G.C. Badges: 1 Class for Conduct: 1.    Religion R.C. Next of Kin: Aunt Name: Elizabeth Throwell Address: 33 Hughson St, Liverpool		15.9.14               A/194 Where Serving: Howe Battalion 19.6.15 (rep.rec) Missing D’nelles RND List No 147
6.8.15 9.8.15 11.8.15 14.9.15 14.9.15 20.9.15 29.9.15 9.10.15 29.9.15 29.10.15 20.7.15 29.9.15 7.10.16 11.2.19	Unofficially reported dead cabled R.O.64 for confirmation KPC 9766 read “nothing further reported enquiring” NOK informed Any further information to be sent to father also. Mr John Beattie, 56c Northumberland St, off Mill St, Liverpool. MFC 16310 Repts killed in action 4.6.15 RND List 338 NOK informed also father “D.D” List No 15 A.F.B. 2090a received (4.6.15 Killed in Action, Dardanelles) D.C. No 512 send to N.O.K. Copy to Aunt Mrs Throwell. A.F.B.103 received (4-6.6.15 missing Dardanelles, 4.6.15 killed in action, Dardanelles) Cable from D.H.C.) S.C. Conduct sheet and A.F.B.103 sent to Commodore R.N.D. Depot C.P. for notation service and completion of discharge certificate and return. Recd. D.O. 30, 7.7.15 missing 4-6.6.15 Recd. D.O. 47, 15.9.15 Killed in action 4.6.15. Previously reported missing S/C., C/S., recd. From S.C.O. Blandford. Forwarded to A.G.9 W.G. Form passed to A.G.9B Paid £5 Issued by A.G. 14a with 1914 star

Link to William's entry in the CWGC database (opens in new window)
His entry in Great Britian, Royal Naval Division Casualties of the Great War 1914-1924 gives the information:

Name:	William Beattie
Service Branch:	Royal Navy
Unit:	Howe Bn.
Rank:	Stoker 1st Class
Death Date:	4 Jun 1915
Cause of Death:	Missing, later reported killed in action
Burial:	Helles Memorial (MR 4)
Service History:	Enlisted 25/9/1908 ; Enrolled RFR 21/9/1913 ; Howe Bn. A/194 15/9/14-4/6/15 DD.
Service Number:	Dev/SS/107737(RFR/B/5376)
Notes:	CWGC = Hawke Bn. ; Born July 3rd 1889, in Liverpool, Lancashire, the son of John Beattie of 56c, Northumberland Street, off Mill Street, Liverpool. He was unmarried and was employed as a scaler in civil life. ; Nephew of Elizabeth Throwell, of 33 Hughson St., Liverpool (listed as Next-of-Kin in 1914). ; 1914 Star issued to Legatee, Mrs. E. Thornewell, 31/3/19.

Source: Ancestry.co.uk

Commemoration

William has no known grave and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial (Turkey) you can find out more about this cemetery and memorial here on the CWGC website.

Helles Memorial (copyright CWGC)

William's entry on the CWGC website has the incorrect information of Hawke Battalion instead of Howe Battalion. 

Liverpool Echo Family Notices 3rd June 1916

Roll of Honour

BEATTIE - In loving memory of William, killed in action in the Dardanelles, June 4 1915. (never forgotten by his Aunt E Throwell. Rest in peace)

Liverpool Town Hall, Hall of Remembrance

There are two entries for W Beattie on the Roll of Honour in the Hall of Remembrance, one of them has the regiment "Royal Naval Brigade" and the other "Howe Battery, HMS Reliance"  These entries were submitted by family members who were often unsure of exact regiments etc and as far as I know "Howe Battery" did not exist and is probably a mistake for Howe Battalion, HMS Reliance was a repair ship which was in the Dardanelles in 1915. It is possible that either, or both of these entries are for William Beattie.

Leading Seaman Matthew Chisam

Identification

There was only one Matthew Chisam in the CWGC records. 

Family Information

Born 31st May 1872 in Workington, Cumberland, the son of John and Margaret Chisam.

The 1881 census shows that John was employed as a commercial clerk at an Iron works and Matthew had a younger brother Joseph. They all lived at 10 Southey Street, Workington. 

The 1891 census shows that Matthew was a sailor, his brother Joseph was a fitters apprentice at an iron works and their father John was still employed as an ironworks clerk. Matthew's grandmother (maternal) Elizabeth Ellwood was with them - a widow living on her own means. Their address was 17 Marsh Side, Workington.

Matthew's father, John Chisam, died on 12th February 1897 in Marsh-side, Cumberland, the probate record shows that he left £90 to his widow. 

In 1902 Matthew Chisam married Agnes Singers Meneely in Magherafelt, Ireland. 

The 1911 census shows Matthew and Agnes living at 3 Emerson Street, Liverpool. Matthew's occupation is Mariner with a note added to say 'Merchant services' Matthew was actually away at sea at the time of the census. Further details on the census show that they had 5 children, 2 of whom have died. The 3 surviving children on the census are James Singers Chisam, born in Workington 1903. Isabella Maneely Chisam born in Magherafelt, Ireland, in 1904 and Agnes Chisam, 5, born in Liverpool. These births show us how the family had moved around, probably with Matthew's occupation as a merchant seaman. 

Royal Navy

Matthew Chisam's Royal Naval Reserve record is available  via National Archives online - the following information is taken from there.

Date of enrolment: 4th November 1898 number D 2062
He had 15 years 7months previous service in reserve.

Matthew was 5ft 4inches tall with a fair complexion, a 39inch chest measurement and grey eyes. He had tattoos of a woman and flag on his right arm, a sailor with two flags and a rose on his left arm. It also says 'bracelets' with a mark that could be a cross or a star.

His address was 21 Tarbet St.

He died in Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, on the 24th Sept 1918 from pneumonia - it is likely that he was one of the many deaths from the Spanish Flu pandemic.

UK, Royal Navy and Royal Marine War Graves Roll, 1914-1919 about Matthew Chisam

Name: Matthew Chisam Rank: Act Ldg Smn Birth Date: 31 May 1872 Birth Place: Workington, Cumberland, England Branch of Service: Royal Naval Reserve Cause of Death: Died from disease Official Number Port Division: 2062.D. Death Date: 24 Sep 1918 Ship or Unit: HMS President III Location of Grave: D (Naval Area) 105 Name and Address of Cemetery: City Cemetery Glenalina Extension, Belfast, County Antrim Relatives Notified and Address: Widow: Mrs, Agnes, Chisam, 19 Tarbet Street Liverpool

Death and Commemoration
Mathew Chisam was buried in Belfast City Cemetery, his widow Agnes requested that his headstone bear the words "Thy Will Oh Lord, Not Mine, Be Done." 

Click here to go to the CWGC entry for Mathew Chisam.

Family Notices, Local Newspapers 1914-1918

It's been a while since I had any new information to add to the blog so I am pleased to announce that I am updating several entries with information from family notices placed in the Liverpool Echo 1914-1918.  To avoid duplicate entries I will be adding transcripts of the notices to the original posts for the following men: (if you would like an image of the newspaper notice please get in touch)

Arthur P Beattie
William Beattie
William Bolton
Thomas H Bramwell

Norman Bracher
Edward Burston

Henry Percy Clarke

Robert D Corran

Allan Dawson
Hugh S Elliott
William H Elliott

George J Harker
Percy Harwood
Richard H Jaques

Herbert W.R. Jeffes
Matthew Jones

Herbert Ledger and his brother David Ledger
James Llewellin

Richard W Longmaid
Hugh Loughlin
George Mackarell
Marcus McLean

Thomas J Prichard

Thomas S Reay

Charles Schonewald

Roderic D Sharpe

John Simpson
Alfred J Trafford

James D Wilding

Soldiers' Wills

You may have seen the news story a month or so ago about soldiers wills - read about it on the bbc website

Basically 230,000 wills and final letters were retained by the MOD, presumably because they contained sensitive information. Those wills have been digitised and put online at https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/
It's free to search for a soldier but £6 per will to access them.

I put in the 47 soldiers names and found 9 names, of course it will cost £54 to view them so I will be adding this to the wishlist for my grant application.