Colin Lindsay Beaton
Biography
Born: 24/25 March 1915 — Tantanoola, South Australia
Died: 14 May 1944, aged 29 — whilst a Prisoner of War (Burma Railway / Siam)
Buried: Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore
Mother: Elizabeth Beattie Bessie Telfer (1871–1948)
Father: William John Beaton
Family
| Relation | Name |
|---|---|
| Mother | Elizabeth Beattie Bessie Telfer (1871–1948) (Bessie) |
| Father | William John Beaton (d. 18 Jun 1942, aged 73, Tantanoola) |
| Maternal Grandfather | Adam Francis Telfer (1842–1925) |
| Maternal Grandmother | Margaret Dougal Telfer (1849–1936) |
| Siblings | Ivy, Margaret, Bill (William), Olive, Harold & Frank (twins), Ken |
Life Summary
Colin Lindsay Beaton was the youngest of the eight children of Bessie (Elizabeth Beattie) Telfer and William John Beaton of Tantanoola, South Australia. He was the grandson — through his mother Bessie — of Adam Francis Telfer (1842–1925) and Margaret Dougal Telfer (1849–1936), placing him squarely in the Telfer family's South-East SA line.
Colin and his brother Ken rode a pony five miles each way to school and both won exhibitions (scholarships) in the Qualifying Certificate examinations — Colin scored 677 out of 700. They boarded at Mount Gambier High School. A keen sportsman, Colin played most of his football for Tantanoola, represented the Inter-Association teams on several occasions, and was a useful cricketer for Tantanoola.
War Service & Death
At the outbreak of the Second World War, Colin enlisted with his brothers Harold and Frank. He served as a Private with the Australian Army (service number SX10061, enlisted 7 August 1940). He was taken prisoner and held at Changi prison in Singapore, then forced onto the Burma Railway with his captors, where he died while on the project — 14 May 1944, aged 29.
He is buried at Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore. His name also appears on his parents' memorial at the Tantanoola cemetery, which reads:
Colin L. Beaton, Died whilst Prisoner of War 14th May, 1944, Aged 29 years Lest We Forget.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 24/25 Mar 1915 | Born at Tantanoola, South Australia |
| 1890s | Parents Bessie Telfer & William John Beaton married |
| ~1928–30 | Gained Qualifying Certificate exhibition (677/700), boarded at Mt Gambier High School |
| 7 Aug 1940 | Enlisted, Australian Army — Private SX10061 |
| WW2 | Prisoner of War at Changi, Singapore; forced onto the Burma Railway |
| 14 May 1944 | Died, aged 29, whilst a Prisoner of War |
| 18 Jun 1942 | Father William John Beaton died, aged 73 |
| 1 Jul 1948 | Mother Bessie Beaton died, aged 77 |
Sources
- Source: Donald Telfer, From the Borders to the Bush (ISBN 0 7316 6387 X), "The Beaton Family in..." section (account by Ken Beaton), pp. 280–282 — reproduced in vault text & read this pass — accessed 15 Aug 2026. Confirms parentage, exhibition/scholarship detail, Changi/Burma Railway captivity, and the memorial-inscription date 14 May 1944 aged 29.
- Source: Find A Grave memorial 56320455 — Colin Lindsay Beaton — live-verified via curl 15 Aug 2026: Australian Army Service No. SX10061, DOB 25 Mar 1915 TANTANOOLA SA, enlisted 07 Aug 1940 Adelaide (NOK Beaton W), d. 14 May 1944, Rank Private, bur. Kranji War Cemetery.
- Source: Australian War Memorial — Colin Lindsay Beaton R1688639 — live-verified via curl 15 Aug 2026: "Colin Lindsay Beaton, Private"; name located at commemorative panel; R1688639.
- Source: DVA Nominal Roll cert 673517 & Virtual War Memorial Australia 599259 — cited in the Librarian swing-10 report (SX10061, enlisted 7 Aug 1940); corroborate the AWM/FindAGrave record.