Inverness Courier 5th October 1945
The ashes of the late Lieut. Col Angus John Beaton, C.M.G., V.D., M.Inst. C.E., F.S.A. Scotland, who died at Norwood Cottage Hospital on 29th September, were scattered in Munlochy Bay in the Inverness Firth yesterday. The chief mourner was Mr Angus B Beaton, RAF., eldest son of the deceased, who had conveyed the casket from London. The short but impressive service was conducted by the Rev. Donald S Robertson, minister of the Munlochy Church of Scotland, and in the boat were well known citizens of the village, who were personal friends of the late Colonel. It was Colonel Beaton's wish that his dust should be scattered in the beautiful bay in the district of which he had spent his youth.
He was born in Munlochy 87 years ago, his forebears having farmed in the Black Isle for several generations. He came of long lived stock, and one of his maternal grand aunts lived in three centuries, dying in Feburay 1901 at the age of 102 years: his parental grandfather made a trip to New York when 82 years old.
Colonel Beaton had an interesting and distinguished career, and his fame as an engineer was not only known in England but also in South Africa where he spent many years of his long life. He was trained in the office of the late Mr James Fraser, M.Inst. C.E., a well known Inverness engineer, and later joined the L and N,W, Railway with whom he served for some years, being appointed a resident engineer on the new railways in England, and Wales, and carrying out extensive engineering work.
In 1900 Colonel Beaton went to South Africa and saw service in various capacities in the Boer War and was mentioned in despatches for valuable service rendered. At the conclusion of the war he was transferred to the Imperial Military Railway where he carried out extensive reconstruction works and new railway developments in the Orange Free State and Transvaal. When responsible Government was granted to those two provinces, Colonel Beaton accepted the position of assistant-in-chief on the South African railways, and his 18 years service he on several occasions acted as engineer-in-chief, being responsible for the laying out and constructing the large development programme of several thousand miles of new railways in the Union of South Africa.
In 1914 he went to German South West Africa, ans as Lieut. Col. he commanded the South African Engineer Corps. He designed and improved rapid method of landingrailway materials and constructed many miles of railways. At the end of the campaign Colonel Beaton went to German east Africa under General Smuts. In 1918 he was awarded for his military service the Order of Commander of St Michael and St George as well as being mentioned in despatched several times.
Colonel Beaton retired in 1922, and on coming to this country, lived in Cheltenham Spa and the Channel Islands and in London since the beginning of the war. He, however, frequently visited the Black Isle for which he had great affections and in whose history and antiquaries he was an authority. He frequently contributed articles to the press, and was the author of "The History of Fortrose", "The Economic Conditions of The Highlands since 1900",and of numerous pamphlets on railway engineering subjects. Colonel Beaton on his visits to the North also delivered lectures, one to the Inverness Scientific Society and field Club.
It may be mentioned that as ayoung man he was an officer of the 1st V.B.(Ross-shire) Seaforth Highlanders, and was one of the crack shots of the battalion. He is survived by Mrs Beaton, a daughter of Mr Charles Bredell (an early pioneer of Natal), two sons, Mr Angus B Beaton, serving in the RAF, and Mr Douglas J Beaton, RAF, who served in combined operations and is in hospital recovering from wounds, and by a daughter (Mrs Margaret Edmonds). Mrs Beaton resides at Beaulieu Heights Hotel, South Norwood Hill, London S.E.25.
WHO WAS WHO 1941 - 1945
BEATON, Lieut-Col, Angus John, C.M.G, 1918: M.Inst.C.E., V.D., F.S.A.Scot:- Born 1858, Son of John Beaton or Behtune, Dayfield, Ross-shire: married Florence, daughter of the late Charles Bredell, Barberton, Transvaal: two sons, one daughter. Education - Munlochy Public School: Inverness Royal Academy: Owens College, Manchester. Articled to James Fraser, M.Inst.C.E. consulting engineer, Inverness: 18 years on Engineers staff London and North Western Railway: final position Resident Engineer New Works: 18 years South African Government Railways: assistant Engineer-in-Chief, 1910-1919: acting Engineer-in-Chief for three seperate periods: served in Anglo-Boer war as Captain: in German South West Campaign as Major in Engineer Corps(C.M.G, despatches twice): East African Campaign with rank of Lieut-Col. Publications - History of Highlands of Scotland: several brochures on railway Engineering Subjects: History of railway constructions: German South West Campaign, Recreations - golf, shooting: Club- Rand, Johannesburg: Died - 29th September 1945