BEITH, William
| Service Numbers: | 3038, 3038A |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 56th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Sydney, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 20 July 1916, age not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
VC Corner Cemetery and Memorial, Fromelles, France VC Corner Australian Cemetery and Memorial, Fromelles, Lille, Nord Pas de Calais, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board, V.C. Corner Australian Cemetery Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 20 Dec 1915: | Involvement Private, 3038, 20th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Suevic embarkation_ship_number: A29 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Dec 1915: | Embarked Private, 3038, 20th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Suevic, Sydney | |
| 20 Jul 1916: | Involvement Private, 3038A, 56th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 3038A awm_unit: 56th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-07-20 | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement 56th Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix) |
Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
William BEITH was born in Dunolly, Victoria, on 13 October 1882. He joined the NSWGR&T as a labourer (temporary) in the Per-Way Branch of the Tramways on 21 March 1915. Within six months of joining, on 8 September 1915, he was released from duty to join the AIF.
William enlisted at the rank of Private (Service Number 3038A) and was assigned to the 7th Reinforcements to the 20th Infantry Battalion. On his Attestation Paper he gave his marital status as ‘Single’ and nominated his sister, Mrs Olive Atherton of Bealiba, Victoria, as his next of kin.
It was not until AIF Base Records received a letter from his wife, Mrs Amelia Jane Beith (née Riley), dated 23 September 1916, that they became aware William had married between enlistment and departure from Sydney. The couple also had a son, William Daniel Beith, born later in 1916.
After completing his basic training, on 20 December 1915 William embarked aboard HMAT A29 ‘Suevic’ at Sydney for Egypt. On arrival in Egypt he proceeded to the 5th Training Battalion and on 16 February 1916 he was transferred to the 56th Infantry Battalion. On 19 June 1916 he embarked at Alexandria for France and on 20 July 1916 he was posted as missing in action. A Court of Enquiry assembled a year later found that there was sufficient evidence to establish that he had been killed in action on that date. Subsequently, his widow was awarded a pension of £2 per fortnight and their son was awarded a pension of £1 per fortnight, both with effect from 15 October 1916.
As his grave was never found, William Beith is commemorated at VC Corner Australian Cemetery and Memorial, Fromelles, Lille, Nord Pas de Calais, France.
(NAA B2455-3073903)
Submitted 11 May 2023 by John Oakes