Private F. G. Beaton – Gordon Hrs.

Fraser Singer Beaton

This is probably Private Fraser Singer (not G) Beaton of the 52nd Bn. Gordon Highlanders.  He was born in Aberlour on 5 June 1899. His parents were Farquhar Beaton, a baker, and Isabella Forbes Singer, who married at Inverurie in 1894. In 1901, the family were living with Isabella’s parents at Urybank, Keithhall, Inverurie. Fraser had an older brother Farquhar. His grandparents, Francis and Isabella Singer, also had 7 children living with them at that time, the eldest being 35 and the youngest 6. 

In the census of 1911 the Beatons, including Fraser aged 11, were registered at Myra Cottage, Torphins, by which time he had twin younger sisters aged 9. He gave Aberdeen as his place of residence on enlistment in the Gordons (No. TR1/10586). Records show that he had registered as a member of the National Union of Railway Workers in April 1917, so his war service may have been quite short, as he died aged 18 at Colchester on Tuesday 12 March 1918.

The Aberdeen Weekly Journal on 22 March 1918 gave an account of how this came about: “Private Fraser S. Beaton, Gordons, who died of pneumonia in a military camp in England, was buried with military honours in Inverurie Churchyard on Tuesday afternoon. The Rev Wm Cruickshank, U. F. Church, conducted the service. The local Volunteer Company and also the soldiers employed at the Locomotive Works, under the command of Captain P. W. M. Laing were present. The firing party was in the charge of Sergt. Wm Park.

Private Beaton was a son of Mr Farquhar Beaton, baker, late of Torphins. He was for some time in service at Drumnagesk, and latterly in the employment of the Great North of Scotland Railway Company”.

The detail that Private Beaton had been in service at Drumnagesk is interesting. This was the home of the Farquhar family, two of whom are also commemorated on the war memorial. Given that this soldier had a father and a brother named Farquhar, was there perhaps a connection between the two families?

Sources
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in the Great War
Register of births
Censuses 1901 & 1911
Trade Union Membership registers in http://www.findmypast.co.uk
England & Wales Deaths in findmypast
Aberdeen Weekly Journal 22 March 1918
Inverurie cemetery plot C row 5 grave 723