Hugh John Beazley

Wing Commander Hugh John Sherard "Beazle" Beazley, DFC (18 July 1916 – 13 June 2011) was a Royal Air Force fighter pilot during the Second World War.

Early life[]

Hugh John Sherard Beazley was born on 18 July 1916, the son of a judge Sir Hugh Loveday Beazley. He was educated at Cheltenham College and Pembroke College, Oxford, where he read History. While at university he began flying with the Oxford University Air Squadron,^[1] and played rugby for Richmond.^[2]

Royal Air Force[]

On the outbreak of the Second World War, Beazley was called up to serve in the Royal Air Force and completed his training as a pilot at Royal Air Force College Cranwell.

Battle of Britain[]

Beazley joined No. 249 Squadron RAF at RAF Church Fenton on its formation in May 1940 flying Hurricanes.^[3] He was promoted to the rank of flying officer on 25 September 1940.^[4]

On 8 July Beazley shared in the destruction of an enemy bomber over Yorkshire. No. 249 Squadron then moved to RAF North Weald to join No. 11 Group RAF in the main battle in the south of England. On 2 September he probably destroyed a Messerschmitt Bf 109 but was attacked in turn; his Hurricane burst into flames. Beazley bailed out and landed safely near Gillingham – despite being fired on by the local artillery battery. He was soon back in action, and four days later shared in the destruction of another enemy fighter. On 15 September, now known as Battle of Britain Day, he accounted for a Dornier Do 17 and two days later he shared in the destruction of a Junkers Ju 88.

On 27 September 1940, while attacking a Messerschmitt Bf 110, Beazley was badly wounded in the foot but managed to nurse his aircraft back to RAF North Weald. He was subsequently hospitalised and therefore it was his last action during the Battle of Britain.^[3]

Later war[]

After being wounded in action, Beazley spent five months in hospital before rejoining the squadron in March 1941 in time to sail for Malta on the carrier HMS Ark Royal. Beazley, along with the rest of the squadron, was launched from the ship on 21 May 1941, arriving at Ta' Qali in Malta. He was promoted again to the rank of flight lieutenant on 25 September.^[5]

Beazley damaged an Italian bomber, a Messerschmitt Bf 109 and, on an intruder mission over Sicily, destroyed a train. On 19 January 1942 his Hurricane was hit by ground fire during an attack on the Italian airfield at Comiso and he was forced to crash land on his return to Malta. In February 1942 he probably destroyed a German Junkers 88. After the loss of the squadron commander in December, Beazley was made No. 249 Squadron's commanding officer but, in February 1942, after 10 months of continuous action and 215 combat sorties during the Battle of Britain and over Malta, he was rested.

After serving on Air Marshal Arthur Tedder's staff, Beazley returned to operations in December 1942, flying the twin-engined Beaufighter. He was posted to No. 89 Squadron RAF in North Africa before, in October 1943, travelling with it to join the fighting in South East Asia. In March 1944 he was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross for "displaying the highest standard of courage and leadership" and appointed to command the operational airfield at Minneriya in Ceylon. He was promoted squadron leader on 13 June 1944.^[6]

In the final stages of the war Beazley was offered further promotion, but since this meant he would have to stop flying, he transferred to Transport Command and flew Dakotas with No. 246 Squadron RAF in Europe, the Middle and Far East^[7] until 1946, when he left the RAF. He officially relinquished his commission on 23 August 1954.^[8]

Post-war[]

After leaving the RAF, Beazley joined the Colonial Office and was posted to Nigeria, where he worked for 10 years, rising to become a Senior Resident. He loved Nigeria and its people and remained lifelong friends with his Nigerian colleague, Simeon Adebo – later . After Nigeria was granted independence, Beazley became a chartered accountant and joined the BET group, where he worked as a finance director until his retirement in 1981.

In Hertfordshire Beazley was an important supporter of the Conservative Party, serving as a councillor and then as chairman of Hoddesdon district council. He was also president of the Broxbourne Conservative Association.

Beazley was a trustee and treasurer of the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust, playing a major role in establishing a permanent memorial to "The Few" at Capel-Le-Ferne.

In 1947 Beazley married Mary Rawlings, daughter of Admiral Sir Bernard Rawlings. Beazley died on 13 June 2011 and was survived by his wife, their two sons and one daughter.

References[]