Photo: Dorothy Hall
J.R. Beattie
Durham Light Infantry
12th April 1915 age 33
Thy Will be Done
Brenda McMahon has submitted the following:-
John was born to parents John and Jane Ann at Felling about 1882. Several children followed including Jane, Thomas, Isaac, David, Annie, James and William.
The 1901 census shows John (senior) working as a coal miner shifter below ground, John Robert as a coal miner putter, Jane as an apprentice dressmaker and William as a coal miner driver below ground.
On 16 October 1909 John married his sweetheart, Jane Angles at Gateshead Register office. They went on to have 2 children, Jane and John.
By 1911 John was listed as a boarder with his wife and young daughter at his in laws' home at 13 Blue Quarries Road. By this time he had become a coal miner screener.
John enlisted into the army at South Shields on 27 August 1914 very soon after the commencement of war. He first served with the 3rd Battalion Durham Light Infantry then later transferred to 16th Battalion.
His records show he was 5’ 7” in height, weighed 149 lbs, had brown hair and generally was in good physical development. His religion was Church of England.
In January 1915 it appears John slightly injured his first finger left hand. It didn’t seem to be too bad but it obviously had become infected as on admission to hospital on 29 January he had a temperature of over 100 degrees with a dry, coated tongue and sores on his lips, in fact, it was noted he was very ill.
Widespread abscesses spread in over his body especially at his right shoulder (acute inflammation) and bulbus on forearm. Samples were sent off to the bacteriologist for examination. He was suffering from pyaemia (septic poisoning) that completely took over his body. His treatment was that the abscesses were opened under general anaesthetic.
His exhaustion by fighting the disease contributed to his death. He died at 7.30 pm at 1st General Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne on 12 April 1915. An inquest followed the next day.
Royal Victoria Infirmary Coroner's Report Number 190, 13/04/1915:
John Robert Beattie, 33 years Miner, 13 Blue Quarry Road, Gateshead, a Private 16th Battalion D.L.I. Died in 1st Northern General Hospital at 7.30 pm on 12th.
Deceased died from exhaustion following general septic poisoning set up by a slight injure [sic] received to his left hand, but how he sustained such injury there was no evidence to show.
He was buried at St John’s Church Sheriff Hill. His mother added the following words to his headstone :-Thy will be done.
His wife received a pension of 18/6d for herself and their 2 children which was payable from 12 October 1915.
John Robert Beattie is remembered at Gateshead in G39.004 page 65 and at Gateshead Fell on G39.064
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 80
