Lance Corporal James Beattie

Lance Corporal James Beattie, 1st Battalion, Black Watch. He died from sepsis in a Field Hospital in Germany on 1st July 1915, aged 30, He was a Regular Soldier and had originally enlisted in the Scots Guards in 1908 but transferred to the Black Watch in 1909 joining the 2nd Battalion in India in 1911. He had been born in Castleton and was the son of James and Jessie Beattie of Kershope and Blinkbonny, Newcastleton. He is buried in Cologne Southern Cemetery. He had been wounded on April 4th and again on 9th May when he was taken prisoner during the Battle of Aubers Ridge. The Battalion lost heavily in this attack losing 14 Officers and 461 Other Ranks in killed, wounded, missing and captured. The photographs were taken during the Battle.