Private Lennox McBeath:
#8/3677
#8/3677
Lennox McBeath was born in north Otago, in Herbert, on 1/11/1884.
He is listed as living at 22 King St, Otautau and working as a labourer, at the time he joined up for WW1 at Trentham, on 19/10/1915. His last recorded employers were Bird Bros., who not only had sawmills across the south and Invercargill, but also a local Otautau Sawmill & Timber business, where Len had been a Motor Driver.
Private McBeath disembarked at Suez on 14/2/16. In 1916, he fought both in the Egyptian Campaign and with the Egyptian Expeditionary Forces, and was shipped out for France from Alexandria, on 9/4/1916.
He was soon wounded in action “in the field” on 31/5/1916, reported by the local OSWCC Newspaper. His medical records show he had a gun shot wound to the leg, being admitted to No.18 Gen. Hospital on 2/6/1916. At the time he was wounded, Pvt. McBeath was fighting with D. (Otago) Company, as part of the 9th Reinforcements. Pvt. McBeath went on to fight again at the Western Front later in 1916/1917 before being invalided.
On 19/10/1917, Private McBeath was found “no longer physically fit for war service on account of pre-enlistment disability, aggravated by active service.” He came home on the Ruahine to Auckland, being officially discharged on 3/2/1918.
Private McBeath received 2 WWI medals - plus the Otautau Citizens Medal, designed by local jeweller W. (Bill) Wesney. This was gifted to all servicemen, or their families, if deceased, by the Otautau Patriotic Committee, and has been featured in a previous post.
On his return, Len farmed at Aparima, and married a local girl
Annie Robson in 1926. They had no children.
Private McBeath received 2 WWI medals - plus the Otautau Citizens Medal, designed by local jeweller W. (Bill) Wesney. This was gifted to all servicemen, or their families, if deceased, by the Otautau Patriotic Committee, and has been featured in a previous post.
On his return, Len farmed at Aparima, and married a local girl
Annie Robson in 1926. They had no children.
Annie died on 2/4/1963, and Len at Kew Hospital, in 26/5/1963. They are buried together in the Eastern Cemetry, Invercargill.
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