Military Chat

Hello, I am trying to find any information regarding my great granddad, William Beat, in particular any photographs of the above platoon. He was born in Heaton, Northumberland and he died in France on 12/09/1916. My mother, Ann, has never seen any photographs of her grandfather, and now in her 70's, time is running out.
I would be grateful for any help regarding this,
Thank you
Kim

Welcome to the boards Kim.

Have you contacted the Northumberland Fuliliers museum to see if they have any old photos?

According to the Commonwealth War Graves site his service number was 4118

Kath. x

He enlisted at Newcastle:


First name WILLIAM
Last name BEAT
Service number 4118
Rank PRIVATE
Regiment Northumberland Fusiliers
Battalion 1/5th Battalion (Territorial).
Birth place HEATON, NORTHUMBERLAND
Residence -
Enlistment place NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE
Death year 1916
Death day 12
Death month 9
How died Killed in action
Death location France & Flanders
Theatre of war Western European Theatre
Supplementary Notes -
Country Great Britain
Record set Soldiers died in the Great War 1914-1919
Category Military, armed forces & conflict
Record collection First World War
Collections from Great Britain

His medal roll index entry:

Name: William Beat
Regiment or Corps: 1st/5 Northumberland Fusiliers
Regimental Number: 5/4118

He was entitled to the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Don't know about finding photos of him, but for information about his regiment and battalion.....

1/5th Battalion:-
August 1914 : in Walker. Part of Northumberland Brigade, Northumbrian Division.
April 1915 : landed in France.
May 1915 : became 149th Brigade, 50th (Northumbrian) Division, in France.
15 July 1918 : reduced to cadre strength and transferred to Lines of Communication.
16 August 1918 : transferred to 118th Brigade, 39th Division.
10 November 1918 : disbanded in France.

This and more information is at http://www.1914-1918.net/northfus.htm
and for 50th Division info at http://www.1914-1918.net/50div.htm

Google is your best friend ;-)

"The 1/5th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, a territorial battalion was based in Walker when war broke out in August 1914. After training they proceeded to France in April 1915, to join the 149th Brigade, 50th (Northumbrian) Division.

They took part in the Second Battles of Ypres in 1915 and the Battle of the Somme in 1916, the Arras Offensive where they captured Wancourt Ridge and The Second Battle of Passchendaele in 1917. In 1918 they again saw action on The Somme and Battles of the Lys and Hindenburg Line. "


You can add a record of your great grandfather's story at this website:

http://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/northumberlandfusiliers5.php

Thank you Kathleen. I will contact the museum.I didn't know there was one! My mum doesn't have access to the Internet, so I am determined to find a photograph. Thank you for all your information Kucinta!So very kind of you. I think my mum may have a medal-not sure. An elderly aunt had a photo but it got thrown away! My mum was furious!!! Thank you also Karen. :-)

There is information about the museum here:-

http://www.northumberlandfusiliers.org.uk/index.php

However the museum is unfortunately closed to visitors at the moment while preparations are made for the opening of the First World War exhibition at the beginning of July 2014.

Kath. x

Kim, I'm in the North East and am involved with a few local war memorial projects.

If you want to give further details of William, e.g. when/where born, parents, wife, etc then I'll see if I can dig anything up.

I was born and raised in Heaton myself.

To Marie Celeste, Thank you. I do not have much information about my great granddad as he died before my granddad was born.The only info I have on him is this: William Dixon Beat dob unknown.born Heaton Northumberland.Married Annie Scorfield in 1916.Died in France 12/09/1916.Son William Dixon Beat was born in December 1916-Feb 1990.Annie Scorfield had a brother Joe.Also a sister called Esther?possibly nieces called Ena & Jenny(my mum was not quite sure what relation).I have just found out that William was a railway worker on the Great North Eastern railway. Annie may have remarried???My mum is called Ann Blackmore d.o.b 19/5/39. That is all I have at the moment! May have to get the museum to search for me.
Thank you for your support, :-)
Kim

This looks like William and Annie's marriage (1915 rather than 1916):-

First name(s) WILLIAM
Last name BEAT
Marriage quarter 2
Marriage year 1915
Registration month -
MarriageFinder™ WILLIAM BEAT married
ANNIE I SCORFIELD
Spouse's last name SCORFIELD
District NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
County Northumberland
Country England
Volume 10B
Page 222

The certificate will give you his father's name and occupation (if he knew his father).

This could possibly be William's birth:-

First name(s) WILLIAM DIXON
Last name BEAT
Birth year 1889
Birth quarter 1
Registration month -
Mother's last name -
District NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
County Northumberland
Country England
Volume 10B
Page 146

The certificate would give you his parent's names.

Kath. x

Thank you for your information Kath. Yes, I have looked at these, thank you.It also appears that William had a brother, my mum knew nothing about called Robert Hector Beat, dob 1891.
Kind regards,
Kim

William and Robert are boarders together in the 1911 census:-

JOHN WILLIAM COOK HEAD MARRIED Male 29 1882 COLLIERY LABOURER BELOW GROUND SEDLINGTON NORTHLD
WILHELMINA COOK WIFE MARRIED Female 26 1885 - NEWCASTLE ON TYNE NORTHLD
ADELAIDE ELIZABETH COOK DAUGHTER SINGLE Female 3 1908 - NEWCASTLE ON TYNE NORTHLD
ROBERT HECTOR BEAT BOARDER SINGLE Male 20 1891 COLLIERY LABOURER BELOW GROUND NEWCASTLE ON TYNE NORTHLD <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
WILLIAM DIXON BEAT BOARDER SINGLE Male 22 1889 COLLIERY LABOURER BELOW GROUND NEWCASTLE ON TYNE NORTHLD <<<<<<<<<<<<<

Address:- 40 1/2 JUBILEE TERRACE BEDLINGTON STATION

Kath. x

William and Robert in the 1901 census with parents and siblings:-

First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital condition Gender Age Birth year Occupation Birth place

WILLIAM BEAT HEAD MARRIED Male 42 1859 BAKER & CONFECTIONER NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, NORTHUMBERLAND
ELIZABETH BEAT WIFE - Female 41 1860 - NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, NORTHUMBERLAND
ISABELLA BEAT DAUGHTER SINGLE Female 18 1883 - NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, NORTHUMBERLAND
WILHELMINA BEAT DAUGHTER SINGLE Female 16 1885 - NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, NORTHUMBERLAND
ADELAIDE E BEAT DAUGHTER SINGLE Female 14 1887 - NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, NORTHUMBERLAND
WILLIAM D BEAT SON - Male 12 1889 - NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, NORTHUMBERLAND<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
ROBERT H BEAT SON - Male 9 1892 - NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, NORTHUMBERLAND<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
FREDIE BEAT SON - Male 1 1900 - NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, NORTHUMBERLAND

Address: ALGERNON ROAD, BYKER

(On the 1911 census for William and Robert's parents it says they have been married 27 years and there are 7 children born to the marriage up till then - 6 living and 1 has died).

Not sure if the Fredie in this census record should actually be Eddie as on the 1911 there is an 11 year old called Edward.

Kath. x

The parents in the 1911 census:-

First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital condition Gender Age Birth year Occupation Birth place

WILLIAM BEAT HEAD MARRIED Male 52 1859 BAKER AND CONFECTIONER NEWCASTLE NORTHUMBERLAND
ELIZABETH BEAT WIFE MARRIED Female 51 1860 - NEWCASTLE NORTHUMBERLAND
ISABELLA BEAT DAUGHTER SINGLE Female 28 1883 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER NEWCASTLE NORTHUMBERLAND
EDWARD BEAT SON - Male 11 1900 - NEWCASTLE NORTHUMBERLAND

Kath. x

Hello Kim, William Dixon Beat is commemorated on the North Eastern Railway memorial at York. It mentions that he was a carriage washer at Walkergate. (That would be the depot off Benfield Road - I used to work in offices on that site).

http://www.newmp.org.uk/article.php?categoryid=100&articleid=118&displayorder=3

Going by the middle initial on this, it looks like Annie may indeed have remarried:

England & Wales, Marriage Index, 1916-2005
Name: Annie I Beat
Spouse : John Morrison
Date of Registration: Apr-May-Jun 1919
Registration district: Newcastle upon Tyne
Inferred County: Northumberland
Volume Number: 10b
Page Number: 251

Seems to tie together:

England & Wales, Death Index, 1916-2007
Name: Annie I Morrison
Birth Date: abt 1893
Date of Registration: Mar 1954
Age at Death: 61
Registration district: Newcastle upon Tyne
Inferred County: Northumberland
Volume: 1b
Page: 158

England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975
Name: Annie Isabella Scorfield
Gender: Female
Baptism Date: 1892
Baptism Place: St.Nicholas, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Northumberland, England
Father: James Scorfield
Mother: Esther
FHL Film Number: 1068903
Reference ID: - 2:311KBQV

wow!thank you Kath & Marie celeste!I was working through the census!You have beat (excuse the pun!) me to it!William had a lot of brothers & sisters. Spoke to my mum yesterday and she had no idea William had 1 brother let alone the others.Yes, it all ties in because I know of the Morrison side of the family. My great aunt Ivy was married to a John Morrison.In fact she came all the way from Newcastle to attend my wedding in 1985!
Bless you both
Kim

Kim - if you don't already have it I can send you a copy of William's medal card.