Brooks Beasley
Private Brooks Beasley was born on April 28th, 1896 in Bulloch County, GA to parents Joseph S. and Ida Johnston Beasley. A self-employed farmer, he never married and was the oldest of eight siblings. He grew up in an area of northeastern Bulloch County that was often referred to as "Beasley Town." Brooks lived in Bulloch County and Screven County his whole life, but his last residence was Rocky Ford, GA. He was inducted into the United States Army on July 18, 1918.
Once joining the army, he was sent to train at Fort Screven on Tybee Island and was attached to the 5th Company of the Coast Artillery Corps. This training would prepare him for his shipment to the western front. He was then sent to New York, where he would board the British Troopship the H.M.S. Otranto along with around 1000 other soldiers. They embarked on their journey on September 25, 1918 and reached Scotland's coast das later. There, a storm caused another boat, the H.M.S. Kashmir, to crash into them, eventually sinking their ship. On that day, October 6 1918, he lost his life as a result of the crash, joining the 470 others that died at sea that day. The sinking was America’s largest loss of life in transport during the war.
Beasley's body was initially buried in Klichoman City, Klichoman, Islay Argyll, Scotland, but the family elected to have his remains repatriated in 1920. When his body arrived in Rocky Ford, GA, the family sent a wagon to bring his remains, along with the soldier who had served as an escort, to the family home. His final resting place is the Beasley family cemetery in Statesboro, GA.
Works Cited
“Brooks Beasley (1896-1918) - Find a Grave...” n.d. Www.findagrave.com. Accessed April 24, 2024. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/35053032/brooks-beasley.
“Georgia Memorial Database - World War I Centennial.” n.d. Www.worldwar1centennial.org. Accessed April 24, 2024. https://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/georgia-memorial-database.html.
“Marker Monday: Sinking of the H.M.S. Otranto - Georgia Historical Society.” n.d. Https://Www.georgiahistory.com/. Accessed April 24, 2024. https://www.georgiahistory.com/marker-monday-sinking-of-the-h-m-s-otranto/.
Beasley, Brooks. Burial Card for Brooks Beasley October 6, 1918. US WW1 Burial Cards 1915-1919.
Beasley, Brooks. Brooks Beasley Draft Registration Card. US WW1 Registration Cards 1917-1918.
Tony S. Beasley, email message to Brian K. Feltman, 11 July 2024.