Stephen Beattie

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Stephen Halden Beattie
Stephen Halden Beattie.jpg
Born29 March 1908
Leighton, Montgomeryshire
Died20 April 1975 (aged 67)
Mullion, Cornwall
Buried
Ruan Minor Churchyard
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch Royal Navy
Years of service1927-1960
RankCaptain
Commands heldHMS Campbeltown
Battles/warsWorld War II
Awards
Other workNaval Adviser to the Ethiopian Government (1965)

Captain Stephen Halden Beattie VC (29 March 1908 – 20 April 1975) was a Welsh recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

'Sam' Beattie was born at Leighton, Montgomeryshire to Rev. Prebendary Ernest Halden Beattie, MC and Ethel Knowles. He was educated at Abberley Hall School in Worcester. He joined the Royal Navy in 1925 as a Special Entry Cadet.

Details[]

Beattie was 33 years old, and a lieutenant-commander in the Royal Navy during the Second World War when the following deed at the St Nazaire Raid took place whilst in command of HMS Campbeltown for which he was awarded the VC:

For great gallantry and determination in the attack on St. Nazaire in command of HMS Campbeltown. Under intense fire directed at the bridge from point blank range of about 100 yards, and in the face of the blinding glare of many searchlights, he steamed her into the lock-gates and beached and scuttled her in the correct position. This Victoria Cross is awarded to Lieutenant-Commander Beattie in recognition not only of his own valour but also of that of the unnamed officers and men of a very gallant ship's company, many of whom have not returned.[1]

After grounding the ship, Beattie was taken prisoner of war by the Germans, spending the first part of his captivity in Frontstalag 133 at Rennes in France before being transferred to Marlag and Milag Nord, the POW camp for Royal Navy and Merchant Navy prisoners, near Bremen. He was notified of the award of the Victoria Cross during a special parade at Marlag and Milag Nord. He remained in captivity until 10 April 1945 when, as part of a prisoner of war column evacuated from the prison camp by the Germans, he was liberated at Lübeck. He was later mentioned in despatches for his gallant bearing in captivity.[2]

In 1947 Beattie received the French Légion d'honneur.[3] He later achieved the rank of captain and served as Senior Naval Officer, Persian Gulf from April 1956 to April 1958. His last appointment circa 1957-60 was Commanding Officer HMS Birmingham and Flag Captain to Flag Officer, Flotillas, Home Fleet. Later in the mid-1960s he was naval adviser to the Ethiopian government.

He died at Mullion, Cornwall. He is buried at Ruan Minor Churchyard in Helston, Cornwall, United Kingdom.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Imperial War Museum, London, England.[4]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "No. 35566". The London Gazette. 19 May 1942. p. 2225.
  2. ^ John Winton, The Victoria Cross at Sea: The Sailors, Marines and Airmen Awarded Britain's Highest Honour (Frontline Books, 2016); see also Beattie's entry in The Comprehensive Guide to the Victoria Cross and George Cross, http://vconline.org.uk/stephen-h-beattie-vc/4585965512
  3. ^ "Royal Navy (RN) Officers 1939-1945". World War II Unit Histories and Officers. Retrieved 24 March 2007.
  4. ^ "Victoria Crosses held by the IWM". VictoriaCross.org. Retrieved 28 December 2015.

External links[]


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