The Queen's South Africa Medal w/4 clasps awarded to Robert Beattie, who served a full tour in South Africa with the contingent that suffered the highest casualty rate of any of the 10 New Zealand Contingents.

 

Robert Beattie was born 11th March 1880 at Naseby, Otago. Son of John James and Caroline Beattie (née Rolls). At the time of his selection for the 7th Contingent in early 1901 he was working as a labourere in the Waikato and serving with No. 3 Company, Waikato Mounted Rifles based in Te Awamutu. Beattie served a full tour in South Africa, returning to New Zealand at war's end in 1902.

 

Beattie married Maybell Flynn in 1904 and had two children. The family later moved to Masterton, before settling in the Hawke's Bay in retirement. Robert Beattie died at Hastings on 4th February 1954.

 

The medal is correctly impressed 4004 TPR: R. BEATTIE. 7th N. Z'LAND M.R.

Service file held at Archives New Zealand