BEATTIE, Norman

Sergeant, "B" Co. 10th Batt., Royal Irish Rifles
Service No: 14148
Died: 19/12/1915
Age: 30

Interred in Doullens Communal Cemetery Extension
Remembered on family memorial in Bangor Cemetery

Norman Beattie was born in Ballycloughan on the 28th October 1885. He was the youngest son of William Thomas Beattie, a commercial clerk, and his wife Mary Beattie (nee Hanna).

The family later moved to Belfast were they lived in Eglantine Avenue.

On leaving school, Norman went in to a career as an chartered accountant serving his apprenticeship with the firm of Martin E. Lynas & Co., Donegall Square East, Belfast before joining the firm of Messrs. Price, Waterhouse, & Co., London. He was a member of the Belfast Society of Chartered Accountants and an active member of the Balmoral Golf Club.

On the formation of the Ulster Division both Normand and his brother William enlisted with the 10th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles (South Belfast Volunteers) both attaining the rank of Sergeant.

The Belfast Newsletter of 23rd December 1915 reported that "Sergeant Norman Beattie, 10th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles (South Belfast Volunteers), has been wounded in both legs. Sergeant Beattie is a son of Mrs. Beattie, Eglantine Avenue, Belfast, and a brother of Sergeant W. H. Beattie, also of the South Belfast Regiment, who is now a patient in the Dublin Castle Red Cross Hospital..."

But while his brother William recovered and went on to attain the rank of 2nd Lieutenant Norman succumbed to his wounds and died on 19 December.

KILLED IN ACTION.
BEATTIE – December 19, 1915 (the result of wounds received in France), Sergeant Norman Beattie, 10th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, youngest son of W. T. Beattie, 60, Eglinton Avenue, Belfast.

Belfast Newsletter, 24th December 1915