James Walter Bee, one of 7 children of whom only 4 reached adulthood, was the youngest of 4 sons and had 3 elder sisters. His father William Bee born 1843 at Newton, Midlothian, Scotland, was married at Earlston, Berwick, Scotland, June 7th 1867, to local girl Margaret Gray born 1841. By 1871 Margaret had given birth to 2 children both of whom died at a very young age. Jane Sanderson Bee born July 21st 1868 died before 1871, Thomas born July 25th 1868 died in 1971 whilst the family were living at Market Street, Galashiels where William Bee was employed as a butler. Their son John Gray Bee was born about 1872, Christine Brown, November 6th 1873 and Agnes about 1876. Tragedy struck again when Christine died on New Years Eve, December 31st 1879, at the age of 6 years. William, his wife and surviving children were living at 32, Market Street, Galashiels, Selkirkshire when Andrew Brown Bee was born in 1880. William now supported his family working as a general labourer, ten years later they had moved to 72, Overhaugh Street and Margaret had given birth to their son James Walter in about 1883.

William Bee died, May 8th 1900, at Galashiels, Margaret took into their home his widowed mother Christine Brown Bee (79) and they were supported by Andrew (20) employed by a shoe maker, James (18) an apprentice baker and Agnes (25) a woollen weaver, their brother John Gray Bee had married a girl by the name of Mary and was living two doors away at 70, Overhaugh Street. He and Mary had a daughter, Isabella (2). John supported his family and also her grandmother Janet Shepherd (85).

James Walter Bee left Scotland bringing his mother with him and settled in the north east of England at 16, Huddersfield Street, Gateshead, County Durham, supporting her employed as a baker. He did not enlist upon the outbreak of war but did so for General Service at Gateshead, November 4th 1915 at almost 33 years of age. He was assigned to the Army Service Corps as Private T4/123991 and posted to the 3rd Company Horse Transport Depot, Bradford, also known as the 4th Reserve HT Depot, (Regular Army), where he remained for only two weeks until he was posted to the British Expeditionary Force and departed to France, November 19th 1915 via Southampton aboard the S.S. Manchester Importer. Private Bee landed at Le Havre, November 20th and posted to the Horse Transport Depot at Le Havre joining the 2nd Divisional Trains, carrying supplies and stores, providing the main supply line to the transport of brigades of infantry, artillery and their attached units from November 30th 1915 until given leave to England between September 11th-21st 1917. He did not return to the front after his leave, instead the A.S.C. Records Office at Woolwich states he was admitted, October 2nd 1917 to the 2nd Scottish General Hospital, the poor house on the island of Craigleith, which had been taken over for the duration of the war. Private Bee was treated there for dental problems and discharged, October 19th. Having returned to the front he joined the 3rd Coy 16th Divisional Trains, was moved briefly to the 4th Company but had returned to the 3rd when awarded leave in France after the Armistice, between November 16th-30th 1918, before transferring to the U.K. for release, March 17th 1919, having undergone medical examination a few days earlier. He arrived at the Kinross Dispersal Unit, March 19th and transferred to Class Z, free to return to civilian life but under the obligation to return to active service should hostilities with Germany resume. Class Z was abolished after the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, June 28th 1919, bringing WW1 officially to an end.

James Walter Bee did not return to Gateshead, he set up his permanent home at 16, Victoria Street, Galashiels, Scotland.

His brother Andrew Brown Bee died in 1918 and is buried in Castleside churchyard.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.

James Walter Bee is not remembered on a local War Memorial.