Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Bell Beattie of Kilhead, Annan, Dumfriesshire, Scotland and the husband of Mary Beattie. William was one of twelve children having six brothers, and five sisters. His brothers, four of whom died young, were named George, Dave, Robert, David, John and Richard and his sisters were named Jean, Meg, Mary, Agnes and Janet. His father worked as a ploughman. As a young man William moved from Scotland to Wigston Magna, Leicestershire, and on the 24th February 1900 he married Mary Whyatt at the Independent Chapel in Wigston Magna, the service being conducted by the Minister, Mr Deeming. At the time William was employed by the Midland Railway Company as an engine cleaner based at the Engine Sheds at Wigston, he later worked as a commercial tea seller. While living with his wife at 19, Bushloe End they had two children, William Zadok and Robina, and William being fiercely proud of his Scottish birth moved back to his homeland before the birth of his son. William Zadok was baptised in Scotland in October 1912. Whilst in Scotland William was employed as a lime stone quarryman, and also worked for a time as a kennel man. Moving back to Wigston Magna, the family settled into 21, Bushloe End the house next door to his original home. Upon the outbreak of war William travelled to Scotland to volunteer for what he hoped would be a kilted regiment, but was instead drafted to the 15th Battalion of the Royal Scots who in fact wore trews. William was killed in action on the Somme.