Pte
Duncan James 'Scottie' Beaton
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1881 |
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Place of birth: Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: 21 Gardinia Street, Penhurst, New South Wales, Australia |
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Profession: House Painter/ Paperhanger |
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Religion: Presbyterian |
Army information
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Country: Australia |
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Force: Australian Imperial Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 6719 |
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Enlistment date: 26/08/1916 |
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Enlistment place: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
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Units: — Australian Engineers, 1st Field Coy. (Attached) — Australian Infantry, 3rd Bn. |
Information about death
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Date of death: 23/09/1917 |
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Place of death: Polygon Wood, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 36 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: XLI Row: C Grave: 13 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Duncan James Beaton, a former house painter, was born in 1881 in Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom, as the son of Walter and Jessie McIntyre Beaton. On August 26th, 1916, he enlisted at Show Ground Camp, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, and served as a Private in the 3rd Battalion, part of the 1st Australian Brigade of the 1st Australian Division.
On September 23rd, 1917, the 1st Australian Division was holding the front line together with the 98th Brigade of the British 23rd Division. The 3rd Battalion was positioned in Polygon Wood and was scheduled to be relieved. At 1 a.m., they would move to Halfway House and later at 11:30 a.m. to the Dickebusch area. Before this rotation could take place, the original frontline positions were still exposed to danger. Heavy enemy shelling occurred frequently, and enemy snipers—difficult to detect—were active in the area.
Duncan, aged 36, was killed by heavy enemy shelling while working to construct strongpoints behind the front line. At the time, he was temporarily attached to the 1st Field Company Engineers. He left behind his widow, E. Isabel Finleyson Beaton. Private Duncan James Beaton is buried at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot XLI, Row C, Grave 13.
On September 23rd, 1917, the 1st Australian Division was holding the front line together with the 98th Brigade of the British 23rd Division. The 3rd Battalion was positioned in Polygon Wood and was scheduled to be relieved. At 1 a.m., they would move to Halfway House and later at 11:30 a.m. to the Dickebusch area. Before this rotation could take place, the original frontline positions were still exposed to danger. Heavy enemy shelling occurred frequently, and enemy snipers—difficult to detect—were active in the area.
Duncan, aged 36, was killed by heavy enemy shelling while working to construct strongpoints behind the front line. At the time, he was temporarily attached to the 1st Field Company Engineers. He left behind his widow, E. Isabel Finleyson Beaton. Private Duncan James Beaton is buried at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot XLI, Row C, Grave 13.
Sources 6
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Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), RCDIG1064166). https://www.awm.gov.au Sources used |
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AWM4 Class 23 – Infantry (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23). https://www.awm.gov.au Sources used |
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First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920 (National Archives of Australia, Canberra (NAA), B2455, BEATON D J). https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The day-by-day account. London: Uniform, 2018. Sources used |
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The AIF Project (University of New South Wales, Canberra (UNSW)). https://aif.adfa.edu.au Sources used |
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Unit embarkation nominal rolls, 1914-18 War (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM8). https://www.awm.gov.au Sources used |
More information 4
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The AIF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=17643 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=ca22bdc8-f345-4217-96f7-5d8c2ccee9af |
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/461886 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7354565 |