On Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, France is the name of 21874 Private Samuel McBeath serving with the 9th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment who died 27/09/1916.

Pauline Priano has submitted the following;

Samuel James Alexander McBeath was one of 8 children of whom only 7 survived to adulthood.

His father Hector McBeath was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1850 then brought to County Durham by his parents Hector McBeath and Janet Steel. Hector McBeath Snr was employed as a carpet weaver, the family were living at Gilesgate, Durham in 1861 and had moved by 1871 to Crossgate, Durham, County Durham.

By the age of 20 Hector McBeath was employed as a railway clerk in Durham but moved to Sunderland, historically in County Durham, over the next 4 years where he was married in 1874 to Eleanor Ann Heatley, who was born at Allenheads, Northumberland in 1852. She was the daughter of coachman and domestic servant Samuel Heatley and his wife Elizabeth Hall.

Their son Hector (I) who was born during the 1st quarter (Jan/Feb/Mar) 1876, died during the 1st quarter (Jan Feb/Mar) 1877, aged 1 year old. By 1881 Eleanor had successfully brought to term a further 3 children, William was born March 14th 1877, Hector (II) 1879 and Elizabeth Ann known as Eliza, in 1880.

In 1891 the family was living at 84, Mansforth Terrace, Sunderland and complete after the brith of their daughter Janet Steel McBeath in 1882, Eleanor Maud, May 4th 1884, Samuel James Alexander in 1886 and Albert Heatley McBeath, March 18th 1890. Hector had transferred his family to 15, Vane Terrace, Hendon, Sunderland, as he was now employed as a clerk by the North Eastern Railway, 14 year old William was working as a post office boy and with the exception of Alfred the remainder of their children were scholars.

March 29th 1903 Hector McBeath died, aged 53 years. After his demise Eleanor Ann transferred her family into 3 rooms at 13, Bramwell Street, Sunderland, supported by her sons, William (32) employed as a teamer by the Commissioners of Coal Shipments. He was in charge of horses used to draw trucks of coal under cranes and into tipping sheds. Samuel (24) was working for the North Eastern Railway Company as a locomotive fireman and Albert (21), employed by Ryhope Colliery, worked as a labourer above ground, also in the household was Elizabeth Maud and her 3 children. She had married Stoker William Sinclair Dopping in 1903 who in 1911 was serving aboard the S. S. Lady Martin, birthed in London Dock. Owned by the British & Irish Steam Packet Company, she was one of a fleet running services from London to Dublin.

In 1911 there were already rumblings of a possible war with Germany which was declared August 4th 1914. In answer to Kitchener’s call to arms and the order that all regiments raise new battalions, men from all walks of life volunteered to serve their Country.

Samuel James Alexander McBeath in 1914 was 28 years of age, he enlisted at Sunderland as Samuel McBeath and was posted as Private 21874 to the 9th Battalion West Yorkshire (Prince of Wales’s Own) Regiment, part of Kitchener’s New Armies.

Raised at York, August 25th 1914 after initial training near York the regiment moved to Grantham in Lincolnshire, then on to Frensham, April 4th 1915, for final training. As part of the 32nd Brigade, 11th Northern Division, the 9th Battalion W.Y.R. departed from the port of Liverpool, July 3rd 1915 en-route to Mudros and saw action during the landings at Silva Bay.

Private McBeath joined his regiment in the Balkans, departing October 23rd 1915. His time in Gallipoli was short-lived as the division was withdrawn to Egypt, December 19th 1915. They departed from Mudros and moved to Imbros then on to Egypt where they took over the defence of the Suez Canal.

When reinforcements were required for the opening battles on the Somme the 11th Northern Division received orders, June 17th 1916 to withdrawn from Suez. They embarked at Alexandria and landed at Marseilles, July 7th 1916, Entrained at Marseilles the division arrived on the Somme taking over part of the front line in the 3rd Army sector, July 27th but did not take part in any major battles until the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, September 15th-22nd, followed by the Battle of Thiepval, September 26th-28th 1916.

At the conclusion of the Battle of Thieval, Private Samuel McBeath was reported amongst the missing, his mother as next of kin was informed and extensive investigations began as to his whereabouts.

After several anxious months of waiting and hoping that her son’s whereabouts would be discovered, August 1917, his mother received news that for official purposes, her son, Private Samuel McBeath  had been struck off strength, his death presumed to have been, ”on or since,” September 29th 1916.

The sacrifice of Private 21874 Samuel McBeath West Yorkshire Regiment is recorded as one of over 72,000  names inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Thiepval, France commemorating servicemen from the United Kingdom and South Africa who fell on the Somme before March 20th 1918 and who have no known grave. He was 30 years of age and single.

His mother Eleanor Ann McBeath received all monies due to her late son from the Army, his awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal also a pension in the sum of 15 shilling, awarded June 16th 1917 to be received weekly and back dated to June 5th 1917.

Samuel’s brother in law William Sinclair Dobbing died of pneumonia, July 21st 1917, whilst serving as Fireman aboard the S. S. Longerty, leaving his widow Elizabeth Maud with 4 children to raise. Fireman Dobbing’s father Master Mariner William Sinclair Dobbing Snr drowned at sea, December 15th 1917 and is considered a casualty of war. His brother in law Mark Labbett Pain died of a cardiac arrest while on active service and is considered a casualty of war.

Eleanor Ann McBeath in 1921 occupied 13, Bramwell Street, listed in error as christian name Ealena. Living with her was Albert McBeath, described as a teamer at drops, employed by the River Wear Commissioners & Dock Authority, who supported not only his mother but his niece, Eleanor Ann Dobbing.

Eleanor Ann McBeath nee Heatley (72), died August 15th 1923. The funeral cortege left her home at 13, Bramwell Street, Hendon, Sunderland, at 1.45 p.m. for Bishopwaermouth Cemetery where she was laid to rest.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.

Samuel MvBeath is remembered at Hendon on H123.02 and at Sunderland in S140.048 part 4 page 70.