War Grave Preston Cemetery

[Lee 6th Gen Irish]

Hi all,

I'm researching my Irish heritage in Preston and came across a distant cousin, John Beattie born 1895 - died 15th July 1919.

He was born and died in Preston but his grave in Preston cemetery is similar to those found in the war cemeteries in France and Flanders.

Does anyone know why this is likely to be? For example does it likely mean he died from complications to wounds suffered.

When I've searched for him as a casualty of World war one he doesn't come up.

John Beattie served in the Loyal North Lancashire regiment, private. Service number 4/4485.

He married Ann Wareing in 1918 in Preston and had a daughter Mary Beattie in 1918.

His mother, Ellen Beattie (nee Flynn) lived at 1 Harrison Hill, Preston.

I know from other members of the Flynn family at the time that money was tight so could the army have funded the grave stone as the family didn't have the means?

[ShaunJ]

His grave is maintained by CWGC
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/373319/j-beattie/

Their criteria:
We commemorate people who served in the Commonwealth armed forces during the First or
Second World War, whose death:
 occurred during the official war period; and
 was the result of:
 wounds inflicted or accident occurring during active service;
 disease contracted or commencing while on active service; or
 disease aggravated by active service.
In practice, this means that:
 serving military personnel are commemorated irrespective of the cause or circumstances of
their death; and
 military personnel who died post-discharge are commemorated if it is established that they
meet the above criteria.
https://www.cwgc.org/media/0awj5vti/policy-eligibility-criteria-for-commemoration_march21.pdf

[Maiden Stone]

There are war graves in civilian cemeteries.
Many military records from WW1 were destroyed or damaged by fire.
Welcome to RootsChat.

[ShaunJ]

His army papers reveal that he did not serve overseas. He was discharged having suffered from a sprained hip. The army initially viewed this as stemming from an injury received in civilian life but eventually were persuaded by evidence given by his mother that it was incurred on military duty, on bathing parade.
https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBM%2FWO363-4%2F007264405%2F02605&parentid=GBM%2FWO363-4%2F7264405%2F210%2F2605
https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBM%2FWO363-4%2F007291292%2F00069&parentid=GBM%2FWO363-4%2F7291292%2F5%2F69

Probably also viewable on Ancestry, I haven't looked.

[jonw65]

Burial Register, R.C. Division
21 July 1919
John Beattie, age 24
Soldier
Residence 1 Harrison Hill Preston
Military grave, H 45
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSJN-QQX3

[jonw65]

Graves register confirms six other interments in H 45 before John Beattie
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-V3D4-MJZM

Includes James Murphy on 9 July 1919, same page of burial register.

[Chris Doran]

He was born and died in Preston but his grave in Preston cemetery is similar to those found in the war cemeteries in France and Flanders.

Does anyone know why this is likely to be?

The distinctive CWGC headstones (and smaller flat ones) are used for those who died whilst in the Services from WW1 and still to the present day. They can be supplied for those whose relatives do not prefer a private headstone. The well-known online CWGC database shpws only those for the two World Wars, but there are others for deaths outside these periods. albeit not quite complete.

[Lee 6th Gen Irish]

Thanks very much for the replies, some great information and lots to look into.

Ancestry only has limited details of his war record so will look into findmypast as I've got a few other relatives from WW1 who should have been in the army but don't show up.

I'm currently trying to pick through the 1871 census of district 29 in Preston - the Canal Street area - but it's full of errors so taking a while. In time I might be able to help others on here.

[Nanna52]

A friends great uncle served in WW1, was a POW and very ill when he made it back to England.  He died in 1921 and is commemorated by the CWGC in Highgate cemetery.  Perhaps your man was bought back to an English hospital and when he died was buried near his family home.  It is also in the timeline of the Spanish Flu.  It is a while ago that we found his information, but I think my friend applied for his death certificate or his medical records.