Corporal 16767 John Robert Beattie

• Age: 23
• From: Little Sutton, Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• D.O.W Saturday 21st October 1916
• Commemorated at: Heilly Station Cem, Mericourt
  Panel Ref: V.C.44

John Robert Beattie was born in 1893 in Little Sutton, Cheshire and resided in Liverpool. He was the son of Albert Beattie and his wife Emma Louise (nee Hughes) who married in Chester in 1893.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 8 Bolan Street, Liverpool. His father, Albert, is aged 29, born in Liverpool in 1872 and his occupation is shown to be a Gas Work labourer, his mother, Emma Louisa, is aged 31, born 1870 in Carnarvon, Wales. The children in the household are declared as; John Robert aged 7 born in Little Sutton, Cheshire, Arthur aged 4 and Albert aged 2 were both born in Liverpool. Also listed is Emma’s brother Richard Hughes aged 26, occupation Warehouseman.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 38 Highfield Road. Albert and Emma had now been married for 18 years  and the children John Robert is now aged 17 and is a clerk in the Cotton Association, Arthur is aged 14 and is a messenger boy with the G.P.O, Albert is aged 12 and a further son William aged 5, born 1906 and they are both at school.

He enlisted at St george's Hall in Liverpool on 31 August, 1914, joining the 18th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 16767. He gave his age as 21 years and 13 days and his occupation as a Clerk. He is 5 feet 9 and quarter inches tall, weighed 133 pounds with a chest measurement 36 1/2 inches. His complexion is Sallow, brown eyes, brown hair and gave his religion as Church of England. 

From the 23^rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

John remained in the UK with his Battalion until 07th November, 1915 when they embarked for France.

He was appointed unpaid Lance Corporal on 01st January, 1916, and full paid Lance Corporal on 09th February 1916. John is attached to the 2nd Battalion of the Yorkshire regiment on 1st April 1916, returning to his regiment 4 days later. On the 02nd July, 1916 he is appointed unpaid Corporal, and paid Corporal on 04th July. 

On the 18th October, 1916, he was in action when he received gunshot wounds to his abdomen and thigh. He was treated at the 38th casualty clearing station in France, but sadly died from his wounds 3 days later on 21st October, 1916 aged 23 during the Battle of the Transloy Ridges which was part of the ongoing Somme Offensive.

He now lies in Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt, France, where his headstone bears the epitaph:

“PEACE PERFECT PEACE”

The 36th Casualty Clearing Station was at Heilly from April 1916. It was joined in May by the 38th, and in July by the 2/2nd London, but these hospitals had all moved on by early June 1917. The cemetery was begun in May 1916 and was used by the three medical units until April 1917. From March to May 1918, it was used by Australian units, and in the early autumn for further hospital burials when the 20th Casualty Clearing Station was there briefly in August and September 1918. The last burial was made in May 1919. There are now 2,890 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. Only 12 of the burials are unidentified and special memorials are erected to 21 casualties whose graves in the cemetery could not be exactly located. The cemetery also contains 83 German graves. The burials in this cemetery were carried out under extreme pressure and many of the graves are either too close together to be marked individually, or they contain multiple burials. Some headstones carry as many as three sets of casualty details, and in these cases, regimental badges have had to be omitted. Instead, these badges, 117 in all, have been carved on a cloister wall on the north side of the cemetery. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on 27th October 1916

BEATTIE - October 20 of wounds received in action on the 18th, aged 23 years, John Roberts (Jack), the dearly beloved son of Albert and Emma Beattie, 38 Highfield Road, Stoneycroft. "Peace, perfect, peace."

BEATTIE - October 20 of wounds received an action October 18th, John Roberts Beattie. (At rest, ever remembered by his sorrowing fiance Maggie Howard.)

He was remembered in the Liverpool Echo with a Birthday Remembrance on 18th October 1917

BEATTIE - In sad but loving 24th birthday remembrance of Corporal John Robert Beattie, K.L.R., our dear Jack, who was wounded October 18, 1916, and died on the 20th at 38 Casualty Clearing Station, France, and was buried at Heilly Station Cemetery, France. He was the dear eldest son of Mr. And Mrs. Beattie, 38 Highfield Road, Stoneycroft.

Had He asked us, well we know

We would cry, "Oh spare this blow!"

Yes, with streaming tears, should pray,

Lord we love him, let him stay.

(He was well-liked and respected by all who knew him.) - Sadly missed by his Father and Mother, three Brothers (one in France, one in training, and his young brother at home).

BEATTIE - In sad but loving birthday remembrance of Corporal J. R.Beattie (Jack), who died of wounds October 20, 1916. (He paid the sacrifice for his loved ones.) - Deeply mourned by his fiance Maggie.

His family remembered him on the first anniversary of his death in teh Liverpool Echo on 21st October 1918

BEATTIE - In loving memory of Lance Corporal JOHN ROBERT BEATTIE (Our dear Jack), 2nd Pals, who was wounded October 18, died October 20, 1916, at 38 Casualty Clearing Station, and was buried at Heilly Station Cemetery, France. Ever remembered by Father and Mother, and three brothers, Arthur and Albert in France, Willie (at home).

We who loved you sadly missed you as it dawns another year.

In the lonely hours of thinking thoughts of you are ever dear. - 38 Highfield Road, Stoneycroft.

BEATTIE - To the sacred memory of Corporal J. R. BEATTIE (Jack), died of wounds October 20, 1916. Too sadly missed to be forgotten by his fiance Maggie and all at 321 Binns Road. 

John Robert is also commemorated on the following Mmeorials:

Liverpool Cotton Association War Memorial

St Anne’s C. of E. Church School, Stanley

St Anne’s C. of E. Church, Stanley.

His mother died in the March quarter of 1930, aged 61.

His father died in the December quarter of 1960, aged 89. 

We currently have no further information on John Robert Beattie, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.