Canadian Infantry Badge

Jean Longstaff has submitted the following:-

William Fenwick Beattie was the second son, and third child, of farm worker John Beattie and his wife Elizabeth (nee Andison). He was born on 28th July 1891 in the Northumberland village of Elsdon, as were his parents and siblings; Robert and Mary were older than him and he had three younger sisters, Ann, Margaret and Jessie. By 1911 the family had moved to live in Belsay and Fenwick was working as a postman for the GPO. At the end of March 1912 he left Liverpool sailing on the SS Megantic arriving in Nova Scotia on 7th April and planning to travel onwards to Edmonton, Alberta and work as a farmer.

Mid November 1914 saw Fenwick in Edmonton, Alberta enlisting with the 31st (Alberta) Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force where he became Private 79165 with “C” Company. After initial training in Calgary the Battalion’s planned departure in May 1915 was delayed due to the theft of explosives from the railroad yard and fear of possible sabotage, but they eventually sailed from Quebec on the SS Carpathia arriving in Plymouth at the end of the month. Posted to Dibgate Camp in Kent the Battalion was inspected by the Canadian Prime Minister and Sam Hughes, the Minister for Militia before moving to camp at Otterpool where they were inspected by King George V and Lord Kitchener before marching to Folkestone to embark for France.

Arriving in Boulogne on 19th September 1915 the Battalion was attached to the 6th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Division and made their way to billets at Bailleul before moving into front line trenches at Kemmel on 1st October. The turn of the year saw the Battalion move into Belgium and then back into France where they were on the front line of fighting at St. Eloi Craters in March and April 1916. At the end of April Fenwick was one of the men attached to a cable laying party at Reninghelst not re-joining the 31st until July whilst billeted at Dickebusch.

Promoted to Lance Sergeant on October 1916, six months later he was promoted Sergeant. After the taking of Vimy Ridge the Canadian Brigades moved eastwards until they reached the enemy defence lines when Fresnoy became the scene of some fierce fighting. The attack of 3rd May 1917 was a disaster as the enemy knew an attack was coming, and they reinforced their front lines and fired on the Canadian trenches as the battalions prepared to attack. One of the men killed in that fighting was Sergeant Fenwick Beattie.

Originally buried at Willerval, that cemetery was destroyed in later fighting, and all trace of his grave was lost. He has a grave marker only at Orchard Dump Cemetery.

William F. Beattie is remembered in Belsay on B20.01 and in Bolam on B44.02 and B44.03

In Canada he is remembered on their Virtual War Memorial and in their Book of Remembrance.

Canadian Book of Remembrance
Canadian Virtual Memorial
The CWGC entry for Sergeant Beattie