Robert Beatham

Robert Matthew Beatham VC (16 June 1894 – 9 August 1918) was a British-born Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. He saw action in the Australian Imperial Force during the First World War and fell at the Battle of Amiens.

Early life
Beatham was born on 16 June 1894 to John and Elizabeth Beatham, who resided at Glassonby, Cumberland, England. He attended Maughanby School, Glassonby, Cumberland. He migrated alone to Australia and was aged 20 upon his arrival.

Military service
Beatham enlisted as a Private in the 8th Battalion (Victoria), Australian Imperial Force on 8 January 1915. He embarked on HMAT Hororata from Melbourne on 17 April 1915 for Suez but returned to Australia in August 1915 due to illness (venereal disease). After recuperating he re-enlisted and sailed again seeing one month of active service at Gallipoli before the general evacuation to Alexandria. From there he was sent to France, arriving in Marseilles on 31 March 1916. He was wounded in action for the first time on 18 August 1916, during the early stages of the Battle of the Somme, suffering a gunshot wound to the back. After recuperation he rejoined his unit on 30 September 1917. He was wounded on the second occasion on 4 October 1917 at Broodseinde during the Battle of Passchendaele and was evacuated to England for treatment and recovery. During his sojourn in England he was found guilty of being absent without leave over the new year of 1918 and was given field punishment and a forfeit of pay.

He rejoined his unit on the Western Front in February 1918. He was 24 years old, and still a Private when he was killed in action on 9 August 1918 at Rosières, east of Amiens, France on the second day of the Battle of Amiens. For his gallantry he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.

"''For most conspicuous bravery and self-sacrifice during the attack north of Rosieres, east of Amiens, on 9th Aug., 1918. When the advance was held up by heavy machine gun fire, Pte. Beatham dashed forward, and, assisted by one man, bombed and fought the crews of four enemy machine guns, killing ten of them and capturing ten others, thus facilitating the advance and saving many casualties. When the final objective was reached, although previously wounded, he again dashed forward and bombed a machine gun, being riddled with bullets and killed in doing so. The valour displayed by this gallant soldier inspired all ranks in a wonderful manner."

- The London Gazette" dated 14 December 1918



Beatham was accompanied by Lance Corporal Nottingham in the five charges he made in that assault on the German machine gun posts. He was shot through the leg in the first charge and but had silenced the guns by the end.

He is buried at Heath Cemetery, Harbonnières, France – 10m S of Albert; PlotVII; Row J, Grave 13. His Victoria Cross is held in a private collection in Melbourne. It sold in 1999 for a then record price for an Australian VC of A$178,500.

Five of his brothers saw active service in the First World War, two others died and one spent two years as a Prisoner of War. Robert's younger brother Walter Henry also enlisted in the AIF from Australia. He saw action with the 6th Brigade (Victoria) – 21st Battalion and survived the war.

Published references

 * McWilliams, James and Steel, R. James Amiens 1918 – The Last Great Battle, History Press 2008
 * Roger C. Thompson, 'Beatham, Robert Matthew (1894–1918)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 7, Melbourne University Press, 1979, p. 232.