BEATTY, James Harold

Trooper, Fort Garry Horse, Canadian Mounted Rifles
Service No: 115976
Died: 01/04/1918
Age: 21

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

Known as 'Hal', James Harold Beatty was born on 16 January 1896 in Killarty, a townland near Brookeborough in Co Fermanagh. He was the son of James Joseph Beatty, a farmer, and his wife Annie Beatty nee Bamford.

Shortly after the family moved to Neonery in the townland of Crossdoney, Co Cavan and it was there that James grew up with his older brother George.

In April 1914, now a Clerk, James emigrated to Canada on the Empress of Ireland. Going to to Halifax, Nova Scotia, James was taking up a position as Bank Clerk with the Canadian Bank of Commerce.

Hal is recorded in the Canadian First World War
Book of Remembrance

James was living in Nokomis, Saskatchewan, when, on 16 February 1916, he went to Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, to enlist and was posted to the 10th Overseas Canadian Mounted Rifle Regiment.

Within a month of enlisting James health had suffered coming down with a mild case of influenza and a severe case of measles.

When he had recovered he embarked on the 29 April 1916 onboard the SS Olympic going to Shorncliffe, a camp near Cheriton in Kent, which was a staging post for troops destined for the Western Front. It was here in May, that James was promoted acting Lance Corporal.

James health also took another setback here when, in June, he contracted a mild case of German measles.

Reverting to the ranks at own request on 10 December 1916 shortly before leaving Shorncliffe on 17 December 1916 James left to join the Fort Garry Horse in France where it was part of the Canadian Cavalry Brigade, arriving on the 19 December 1916.

James joined his unit on 5 January 1917 and served with them for just over a year when he was killed in action on 1 April 1918.