Rifleman James Beattie (7010762) served in 2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles during the Second World War. He was the son of James Beattie of 21 Memel Street, Belfast, and the husband of Annie Beattie of 19 Ton Street, Belfast.
Before the outbreak of the Second World War, James worked at the Harland and Wolff Shipyard, Belfast. His father had served in the Royal Navy during the Great War.
Rifleman Beattie enlisted in 1928 and saw action in India and Palestine before the war. He died on 15th May 1940 aged 30 years old. At the time, 2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles was in action at Louvain as the British Expeditionary Force began the withdrawal to Dunkirk.
James Beattie’s grave is in Plot 27, Grave 1 of Kessel-Lo Churchyard, Vlaams-Brabant, Belgium.