James BEATSON [1103]

  General Notes:

[from Charles Gibb] James Beatson was my grandfather's brother (also Alice's). He went to Britannia Beach in Vancouver and settled there with his wife. He worked in the copper mines (which are now closed) and developed copper silicosis in 1945 and was given six months to live. When his wife passed away he returned to Scotland and stayed at 24 Baliol Street until his death.
James also served in in the army and fought at Gallipoli during WW1; he joined up at age 14 and had to stand on tiptoe to pass the height requirement. He was about 5' tall. He is mentioned in a Kinghorn history book/pamphlet as one of the men who served.
He was also an accomplished melodeon player. I spent a great deal of time with him and really enjoyed his tales. A non-smoker and a non-drinker, he decided that with his short life expectancy he may as well indulge in some bad habits for the little time left - he was also dating a lady, so he did get a new lease of life. Certainly someone that I cared for. When we lived in Scone, my wife and I (and our children) would visit my grandparents at least once a month so we were close with Uncle Jimmie.

  Noted events:

1964: registered death of aunt, Williamina Beatson Brannan, Kinghorn, Fife. ²

31 Mar 1901 census: age 4, son of James Beatson at 77, Salisbury Street, Kirkcaldy, FIF, Scotland. ³

James married Jane BERNARD [7402] [MRIN: 2162]. (Jane BERNARD [7402] was born about 1900 in (Estimated date) and died before 1977 in Canada ¹.)