The Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery contains the graves of three American casualties; Sergeant David Beattie, Private 1st Class Harry King and 1st Lieutenant Jim Pigue.
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| Sergeant David Beattie |
David Beattie joined the 2nd New York National Guard and in July 1916 the unit deployed to the Mexican Border to meet the threat posed by Pancho Villa. The guard was again mobilised in March 1917 for service in World War One. The 2nd NY National Guard was re-designated 105th Battalion, and allocated to the 53rd Brigade of the US 27th Division. They deployed to France in May 1918. In July the 105th moved into the front line as part of the British 6th Division.
On the 31st August 1918 Sergeant Beatie was a forward artillery observer manning an observation post on the Dikkebusch Line, near Poperinge, when he sustained artillery shrapnel wounds to the head. He died an hour later aged 22.
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| David Stanley Beattie |
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| Private 1st Class Harry King |
Harry King was born 1893 in Staffordshire England. Harry was one of eight children (4 brothers and 3 sisters). One of his brothers, Ernest, emigrated to the United States in 1908. Harry together with brothers George and Reggie followed Ernest joining him in the United States in 1914.
On the outbreak of World War One, Reggie returned to England, volunteering for the British Army and served as a motor mechanic with the Army Service Corps. The brother who remained in the UK, Lewis, would serve with the Tank Corps. George King left the US to enlist in the Canadian Army. Harry enlisted into the United States Cavalry.
By 1917 four King Brothers were under arms, Reggie and Lewis in the British Army, George in the Canadian Army and Harry in the US Army.
On the outbreak of WW1, Harry was serving with F Troop 3rd US Cavalry. The unit deployed to France in November 1917. The 3rd Cavalry were employed looking after the horses that supplied front line troops. F Troop ran the remounts function for supply and artillery units, it was based near Bourbonne-Les-Bains, 200km (125 miles) north west of the Swiss border.
Reggie King was serving with the Motor Transport Section of 25th Siege Battery (equipped with 8 inch howitzers) when he sustained shrapnel wounds. He died 17th October 1917 at no 3 Canadian CCS and was buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery.
Harry King would die on the 20th September 1918 of pneumonia caused by the Spanish Flu and wa buried Argonne American cemetery at Romange-sous-Montfaucon.
After the war, Harry's mother requested that his remains be buried in the same place as brother Reginald. In October 1921, Harry Kings remains were re-interred at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery.
The inscriptions on Harry's grave reads;
Best of Sons and Brothers, Also Reggie Buried Close By
Harry's other two brothers, Lewis and George survived the war, Geogre returned to the US and lived in New York City.
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| Harry A King |
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Jim Pigue was born 1884 in Nashville, Tennessee. He attended Virginia Military Institute from 1901 to 1902, joining the US Marine Corps in 1904. He would serve on the Panama Canal, North Atlantic and Mediterranean, leaving the Marine Corps in 1909. |
| 1st Lieutenant Jim Pigue |
In 1916, when conflict broke out on the Mexican Border, he enlisted into the 1st Tennessee National Guard. When the unit converted to Heavy Artillery, Jim Piques requested a transfer to an infantry unit and was posted to the 3rd Tennessee National Guard. The guard would mobilise for service in WW1 and was re-designated 117th Battalion. It was allocated to the 59th Brigade of the US 30th Division. The 117th deployed to France in May 1918. On 17th July 1918, Jim Pigue's unit deployed into the front line taking over trenches near Poperinge. The following day he was at an observation post when he was killed by a sniper.
He was originally buried at Gwalia British Cemetery, near Poperinge. His remains were moved to Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery in June 1919. His father visited the grave in 1921.
