Robert Beveridge
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Robert Beveridge was born on 29th September 1889. He married Helen McLiesh, and together they had two children: Robert (1913) and Christina (1915). At the time of his enlistment into the Royal Naval Division on 16th November 1915, he was living in Dundee and employed as a bonded warehouseman with George Morton Ltd. He underwent initial training at Crystal Palace, where he was posted to the 5th Battalion and appointed Able Seaman on 21st February 1916. On 14th April he was drafted to the 2nd Reserve Battalion at Blandford. Over the night of 24th/25th September he entrained from A Reserve for the Howe Battalion. After initially joining the Base Depot on 26th September, he was attached to the 3rd Entrenching Battalion on 9th November, and on 26th November he joined Howe in the field. On 30th May 1917 Beveridge took rum from the company dump without permission and became drunk. On 7th June he was sentenced to thirty-eight days’ Field Punishment No. 1. Under F.P. No. 1 prisoners were subjected to hard labour, shackled in cuffs or fetters, and attached to a fixed object for up to two hours a day. Among the troops this was grimly nicknamed “crucifixion,” owing to the enforced position — arms outstretched — often carried out in full view of their comrades. On 14th August 1917 he received gunshot wounds to his right thigh and forearm. He was evacuated to England and admitted to the 2nd Western General Hospital, Manchester, on 27th August. After a period of sick furlough, he rejoined the 2nd Reserve Battalion on 1st October. On 12th November he was drafted back to Howe and appointed Able Seaman Higher Grade on 31st January 1918. When Howe was disbanded he was attached to the 1st Royal Marine Battalion. On 23rd February he was detached from the 1st Royal Marines and posted to 188th Brigade Headquarters. Robert was killed during Operation Michael on 23rd March 1918. With no known grave, his name is commemorated on the Arras Memorial. |
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