Robert Matthew Beatham
Encyclopedia
Robert Matthew Beatham VC
(16 June 1894 – 9 August 1918) was a British-born Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross
, the highest award for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to British
and Commonwealth
forces. He saw action in the Australian Imperial Force
during the First World War and fell at the Battle of Amiens.
, Cumberland, England. He attended Maughanby School, Glassonby, Cumberland. He migrated alone to Australia and was aged 20 upon his arrival.
in the 8th Battalion (Victoria), Australian Imperial Force on 8 January 1915. He embarked on HMAT Hororata from Melbourne on 17 April 1915 for Suez but returned to Australia in August 1915 due to illness (venereal disease). After recuperating he re-enlisted and sailed again seeing one month of active service at Gallipoli
before the general evacuation to Alexandria. From there he was sent to France, arriving in Marseilles on 31 March 1916. He was wounded in action for the first time on 18 August 1916, during the early stages of the Battle of the Somme
, suffering a gunshot wound to the back. After recuperation he rejoined his unit on 30 September 1917. He was wounded on the second occasion on 4 October 1917 at Broodseinde during the Battle of Passchendaele and was evacuated to England for treatment and recovery. During his sojourn in England he was found guilty of being absent without leave over the new year of 1918 and was given field punishment and a forfeit of pay.
He rejoined his unit on the Western Front
in February 1918. He was 24 years old, and still a Private when he was killed in action on 9 August 1918 at Rosières
, east of Amiens
, France
on the second day of the Battle of Amiens. For his gallantry he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.
Beatham was accompanied by Lance Corporal Nottingham in the five charges he made in that assault on the German machine gun posts. He was shot through the leg in the first charge and but had silenced the guns by the end.
He is buried at Heath Cemetery, Harbonnières
, France
- 10m S of Albert; PlotVII; Row J, Grave 13. His Victoria Cross is held in a private collection in Melbourne
. It sold in 1999 for a then record price for an Australian VC of A$178,500.
Five of his brothers saw active service in the First World War, two others died and one spent two years as a Prisoner of War
. Robert's younger brother Walter Henry also enlisted in the AIF from Australia. He saw action with the 6th Brigade (Victoria) - 21st Battalion and survived the war.
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Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
(16 June 1894 – 9 August 1918) was a British-born Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, the highest award for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
forces. He saw action in the Australian Imperial Force
First Australian Imperial Force
The First Australian Imperial Force was the main expeditionary force of the Australian Army during World War I. It was formed from 15 August 1914, following Britain's declaration of war on Germany. Generally known at the time as the AIF, it is today referred to as the 1st AIF to distinguish from...
during the First World War and fell at the Battle of Amiens.
Early life
Beatham was born on 16 June 1894 to John and Elizabeth Beatham, who resided at GlassonbyGlassonby
Glassonby is a small village and civil parish in the Eden Valley of Cumbria, England, about south south east of Kirkoswald.There is a methodist church and a microlight flying centre in the village....
, Cumberland, England. He attended Maughanby School, Glassonby, Cumberland. He migrated alone to Australia and was aged 20 upon his arrival.
Military service
Beatham enlisted as a PrivatePrivate (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
in the 8th Battalion (Victoria), Australian Imperial Force on 8 January 1915. He embarked on HMAT Hororata from Melbourne on 17 April 1915 for Suez but returned to Australia in August 1915 due to illness (venereal disease). After recuperating he re-enlisted and sailed again seeing one month of active service at Gallipoli
Gallipoli
The Gallipoli peninsula is located in Turkish Thrace , the European part of Turkey, with the Aegean Sea to the west and the Dardanelles straits to the east. Gallipoli derives its name from the Greek "Καλλίπολις" , meaning "Beautiful City"...
before the general evacuation to Alexandria. From there he was sent to France, arriving in Marseilles on 31 March 1916. He was wounded in action for the first time on 18 August 1916, during the early stages of the Battle of the Somme
Battle of the Somme (1916)
The Battle of the Somme , also known as the Somme Offensive, took place during the First World War between 1 July and 14 November 1916 in the Somme department of France, on both banks of the river of the same name...
, suffering a gunshot wound to the back. After recuperation he rejoined his unit on 30 September 1917. He was wounded on the second occasion on 4 October 1917 at Broodseinde during the Battle of Passchendaele and was evacuated to England for treatment and recovery. During his sojourn in England he was found guilty of being absent without leave over the new year of 1918 and was given field punishment and a forfeit of pay.
He rejoined his unit on the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
in February 1918. He was 24 years old, and still a Private when he was killed in action on 9 August 1918 at Rosières
Rosières-en-Santerre
Rosières-en-Santerre is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:The commune is situated some southeast of Amiens, at the junction of the D28 and D329 roadsnext to the Mcdonalds-Population:-Places of interest:...
, east of Amiens
Amiens
Amiens is a city and commune in northern France, north of Paris and south-west of Lille. It is the capital of the Somme department in Picardy...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
on the second day of the Battle of Amiens. For his gallantry he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.
Beatham was accompanied by Lance Corporal Nottingham in the five charges he made in that assault on the German machine gun posts. He was shot through the leg in the first charge and but had silenced the guns by the end.
He is buried at Heath Cemetery, Harbonnières
Harbonnières
Harbonnières is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:The commune is situated on the D337 road, some east of Amiens.-Population:-Places of interest:...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
- 10m S of Albert; PlotVII; Row J, Grave 13. His Victoria Cross is held in a private collection in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. It sold in 1999 for a then record price for an Australian VC of A$178,500.
Five of his brothers saw active service in the First World War, two others died and one spent two years as a Prisoner of War
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
. Robert's younger brother Walter Henry also enlisted in the AIF from Australia. He saw action with the 6th Brigade (Victoria) - 21st Battalion and survived the war.
Honours and awards
| Ribbon | Description | Notes |
|
Victoria Cross Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories.... (VC) |
gazetted 1918 |
| 1914-15 Star 1914-15 Star The 1914-15 Star was a campaign medal of the British Empire, for service in World War I.The 1914-15 Star was approved in 1918, for issue to officers and men of British and Imperial forces who served in any theatre of the War between 5 August 1914 and 31 December 1915 .Recipients of this medal also... |
||
|
British War Medal British War Medal The British War Medal was a campaign medal of the British Empire, for service in World War I.The medal was approved in 1919, for issue to officers and men of British and Imperial forces who had rendered service between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918... |
|
|
Victory Medal Victory Medal (United Kingdom) The Victory Medal is a campaign medal - of which the basic design and ribbon was adopted by Belgium, Brazil, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Siam, Union of South Africa and the USA in accordance with decisions as taken at the Inter-Allied Peace Conference at... |
Published references
- McWilliams, James and Steel, R. James Amiens 1918 – The Last Great Battle, History Press 2008
- Roger C. Thompson, 'Beatham, Robert Matthew (1894 - 1918)', Australian Dictionary of BiographyAustralian Dictionary of BiographyThe Australian Dictionary of Biography is a national, co-operative enterprise, founded and maintained by the Australian National University to produce authoritative biographical articles on eminent people in Australia's history....
, Volume 7, Melbourne University Press, 1979, p. 232.