Three: Gunner G. T. Beaton, Royal Field Artillery, who was killed in action at Armentières, 6 October 1915

1914-15 Star (1241. Gnr. G. T. Beaton. R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (1241 Gnr. G. T. Beaton. R.A.) good very fine (3) £80-120

George Tait Beaton was born at Milnathort, co. Kinross, Scotland, on 24 September 1895 and was educated at Rutherford College, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. He passed the Boy Clerks’ Examination for the Civil Service on 19 May 1911 and entered H.M. Office of Works, Whitehall, on 26 June 1911. He next joined the London City and Midland Bank on 1 April 1912, and transferred to the Newcastle-upon-Tyne branch on 30 September 1912.

On the outbreak of the Great War he ‘volunteered the week war was declared, and joined the 1st Northumbrian Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, on 9 August 1914. He left for France with this Brigade on 16 April 1915; was in the firing line for six months, and was killed in action near Armentières on 6 October 1915, being shot by a sniper whilst acting as a telephonist in the first-line trenches. He had been complimented by his officers for smart and intelligent work, and his Colonel wrote: “He is a very great loss to us... and very much beloved by his officers and the rest of the battery, and we had decided to recommend him for a commission.” His Major wrote: “He was one of the very few whom I always felt I could entirely trust in the performance of his very important duties; he would have been a most valuable soldier, and a good officer.” His Section Commander also wrote: “It was impossible not to notice him from amongst other men. The first day I went to the trenches he was a great help to me, and always afterwards he was the same... He was so intelligent, and obliging and straight, and altogether a fine fellow; his death has been a great loss to us all. I can easily tell how much he was liked by what I hear our men say, and it has cast a gloom over the battery. We all had a great affection for him.”’ (The Roll of Honour refers).

Beaton is buried in Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, France.

Sold with copied service records and research.