Difference between revisions of "Walter Napier Thomason Beckett"

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<div name=fredbot:appts>{{TabApptsBegin}}
 
<div name=fredbot:appts>{{TabApptsBegin}}
 
{{TabNaval}}
 
{{TabNaval}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[John Walter Durnford|John W. Durnford]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Somme (1918)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Somme'']]'''<br>12 Nov, 1923<ref>Beckett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/55/100.|D7605856}} f. 100.</ref> &ndash; 30 Sep, 1924<ref>Beckett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/55/100.|D7605856}} f. 100.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''?'''}}
+
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[John Walter Durnford|John W. Durnford]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Somme (1918)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Somme'']]'''<br>12 Nov, 1923<ref>Beckett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/55/100.|D7605856}} f. 100.</ref> &ndash; 30 Sep, 1924<ref>Beckett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/55/100.|D7605856}} f. 100.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Francis Stephen Walter de Winton|Francis S. W. de Winton]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Charlie Frederick Bush|Charlie F. Bush]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Vendetta (1917)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Vendetta'']]'''<br>17 Oct, 1924<ref>Beckett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/55/100.|D7605856}} f. 100.</ref> &ndash; 31 Dec, 1926<ref>Beckett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/55/100.|D7605856}} f. 100.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Walter Napier Thomason Beckett|Walter N. T. Beckett]]'''}}
+
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Charles Frederick Bush|Charles F. Bush]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Vendetta (1917)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Vendetta'']]'''<br>17 Oct, 1924<ref>Beckett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/55/100.|D7605856}} f. 100.</ref> &ndash; 31 Dec, 1926<ref>Beckett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/55/100.|D7605856}} f. 100.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[George Milner Crockett|George M. Crockett]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Christopher Hildyard Ringrose|Christopher H. Ringrose]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Velox (1917)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Velox'']]'''<br>14 Apr, 1927<ref>Beckett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/55/100.|D7605856}} f. 100.</ref> &ndash; 1928<ref>Beckett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/55/100.|D7605856}} f. 100.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''?'''}}
+
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Ivo Wyndham Laton Frewen-Laton|Ivo W. L. Frewen-Laton]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Velox (1917)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Velox'']]'''<br>14 Apr, 1927{{NLJul27|p. 279}}<ref>Beckett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/55/100.|D7605856}} f. 100.</ref> &ndash; 1928<ref>Beckett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/55/100.|D7605856}} f. 100.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[William David Gordon Weir|William D. G. Weir]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Herbert Masterman Hughes|Herbert M. Hughes]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Whitley (1918)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Whitley'']]'''<br>1928<ref>Beckett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/55/100.|D7605856}} f. 100.</ref> &ndash; Mar, 1929<ref>Beckett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/55/100.|D7605856}} f. 100.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Colin Sinclair Thomson|Colin S. Thomson]]'''}}
+
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Herbert Masterman Hughes|Herbert M. Hughes]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Whitley (1918)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Whitley'']]'''<br>14 Dec, 1928{{NLFeb29|p. 288}} &ndash; Mar, 1929<ref>Beckett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/55/100.|D7605856}} f. 100.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Colin Sinclair Thomson|Colin S. Thomson]]'''}}
 
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Colin Sinclair Thomson|Colin S. Thomson]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Versatile (1917)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Versatile'']]'''<br>Mar, 1929<ref>Beckett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/55/100.|D7605856}} f. 100.</ref> &ndash; 25 Jun, 1929<ref>Beckett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/55/100.|D7605856}} f. 100.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Edmund Gerard Noel Rushbrooke|Edmund G. N. Rushbrooke]]'''}}
 
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Colin Sinclair Thomson|Colin S. Thomson]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Versatile (1917)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Versatile'']]'''<br>Mar, 1929<ref>Beckett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/55/100.|D7605856}} f. 100.</ref> &ndash; 25 Jun, 1929<ref>Beckett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/55/100.|D7605856}} f. 100.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Edmund Gerard Noel Rushbrooke|Edmund G. N. Rushbrooke]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Walter Napier Thomason Beckett|Walter N. T. Beckett]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Vendetta (1917)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Vendetta'']]'''<br>25 Jun, 1929<ref>Beckett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/55/100.|D7605856}} f. 100.</ref> &ndash; Sep, 1930<ref>Beckett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/55/100.|D7605856}} f. 100.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''?'''}}
+
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[George Milner Crockett|George M. Crockett]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Vendetta (1917)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Vendetta'']]'''<br>25 Jun, 1929<ref>Beckett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/55/100.|D7605856}} f. 100.</ref> &ndash; Sep, 1930<ref>Beckett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/55/100.|D7605856}} f. 100.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Jack Donovan|Jack Donovan]]'''<br><small>as '''Captain of H.M.A.S. ''Vendetta'''''</small>}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Peter Vaughan James|Peter V. James]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Voyager (1918)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Voyager'']]'''<br>Sep, 1930<ref>Beckett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/55/100.|D7605856}} f. 100.</ref> &ndash; 12 Jan, 1931<ref>Beckett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/55/100.|D7605856}} f. 100.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''?'''}}
+
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Peter Vaughan James|Peter V. James]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Voyager (1918)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Voyager'']]'''<br>Sep, 1930<ref>Beckett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/55/100.|D7605856}} f. 100.</ref> &ndash; 12 Jan, 1931<ref>Beckett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/55/100.|D7605856}} f. 100.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Thomas Hope Troubridge|Thomas H. Troubridge]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Thomas Charles Carpenter Bolster|Thomas C. C. Bolster]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Winchester (1918)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Winchester'']]'''<br>5 Jan, 1934<ref>Beckett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/55/100.|D7605856}} f. 100.</ref> &ndash; 21 Sep, 1936<ref>Beckett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/55/100.|D7605856}} f. 100.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''?'''}}
+
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Philip Hugh Calderon|Philip H. Calderon]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Amazon (1926)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Amazon'']]'''<br>1 May, 1933 &ndash; 22 Sep, 1933{{INF}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[William David Gordon Weir|William D. G. Weir]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Irving Montgomery Palmer|Irving M. Palmer]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Centurion (1911)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Centurion'']]'''<br>Apr, 1937<ref>Beckett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/55/100.|D7605856}} f. 100.</ref> &ndash; 4 Jan, 1938<ref>Beckett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/55/100.|D7605856}} f. 100.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Richard Victor Symonds-Tayler|Richard V. Symonds-Tayler]]'''}}
+
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Francis Howard|Francis Howard]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Winchester (1918)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Winchester'']]'''<br>5 Jan, 1934<ref>Beckett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/55/100.|D7605856}} f. 100.</ref> &ndash; 21 Sep, 1936<ref>Beckett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/55/100.|D7605856}} f. 100.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Edward Lyon Berthon|Edward L. Berthon]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Montague George Bentinck Legge|Montague G. B. Legge]]'''|'''[[Seventh Destroyer Flotilla (Royal Navy)|Captain (D), Seventh Destroyer Flotilla]]'''<br>24 Sep, 1938<ref>Beckett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/55/100.|D7605856}} f. 100.</ref> &ndash; 11 Oct, 1938<ref>Beckett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/55/100.|D7605856}} f. 100.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''?'''}}
+
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[John Domvile Auchmuty Musters|John D. A. Musters]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Centurion (1911)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Centurion'']]'''<br>20 Apr, 1937{{NLJul37|p. 222}}<ref>Beckett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/55/100.|D7605856}} f. 100.</ref> &ndash; 4 Jan, 1938<ref>Beckett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/55/100.|D7605856}} f. 100.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Richard Victor Symonds-Tayler|Richard V. Symonds-Tayler]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[John Harry Kay Clegg|John H. K. Clegg]]'''|'''[[Seventh Destroyer Flotilla (Royal Navy)|Captain (D), Seventh Destroyer Flotilla]]'''<br>24 Sep, 1938<ref>Beckett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/55/100.|D7605856}} f. 100.</ref> &ndash; 11 Oct, 1938<ref>Beckett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/55/100.|D7605856}} f. 100.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Llewellyn Vaughan Morgan|Llewellyn V. Morgan]]'''}}
 
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Piers Keane Kekewich|Piers K. Kekewich]]'''|'''[[Devonport Royal Dockyard|Captain of Devonport Dockyard, Deputy Superintendent and King's Harbour Master]]'''<br>8 Jan, 1939<ref>Beckett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/55/100.|D7605856}} f. 100.</ref> &ndash; 9 Sep, 1939<ref>Beckett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/55/100.|D7605856}} f. 100.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''?'''}}
 
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Piers Keane Kekewich|Piers K. Kekewich]]'''|'''[[Devonport Royal Dockyard|Captain of Devonport Dockyard, Deputy Superintendent and King's Harbour Master]]'''<br>8 Jan, 1939<ref>Beckett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/55/100.|D7605856}} f. 100.</ref> &ndash; 9 Sep, 1939<ref>Beckett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/55/100.|D7605856}} f. 100.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''?'''}}
 
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Frederick Secker Bell|Frederick S. Bell]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Exeter (1929)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Exeter'']]'''<br>Dec, 1940{{MackieRNW}} &ndash; Mar, 1941{{MackieRNW}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Oliver Loudon Gordon|Oliver L. Gordon]]'''}}
 
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Frederick Secker Bell|Frederick S. Bell]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Exeter (1929)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Exeter'']]'''<br>Dec, 1940{{MackieRNW}} &ndash; Mar, 1941{{MackieRNW}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Oliver Loudon Gordon|Oliver L. Gordon]]'''}}
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{{CatPerson|UK|1893|1941}}
 
{{CatPerson|UK|1893|1941}}
{{CatCaptain|UK}}
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{{CatCapt|UK}}
 
{{CatDeceasedOnActiveService|UK}}
 
{{CatDeceasedOnActiveService|UK}}
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{{CatTrainEst|January, 1906}}

Revision as of 17:15, 17 July 2018

Captain Walter Napier Thomason Beckett, M.V.O., D.S.C., Royal Navy (25 March, 1893 – 10 March, 1941) served in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Beckett was the son of a civil engineer, Clifford Beckett, Esq.[1] He was missing the tip of an index finger which had been badly stitched up after a relatively minor childhood injury.

In late 1910, Beckett was admitted to Plymouth Hospital with a septic wound on his right ear. He was fit 19 days later. In mid September of 1911, he was admitted to Queensferry Hospital, requiring nine more days treatment for his ear.[2]

On 15 January, 1913, Beckett was made an Acting Sub-Lieutenant.[3]

He was appointed to Dido to work with T.B.Ds. on 8 October, 1913 and moved to Princess Royal on 13 November.[4]

On 15 January, 1914, he was promoted to Sub-Lieutenant. On 30 March, he was appointed to Attentive for T.B.Ds. before being appointed to the destroyer Legion on 14 July, to serve in her upon her commissioning.[5]

Great War

Beckett served in Legion from the start of the war, operating with the Third Destroyer Flotilla. On 7 October, 1914, he fought in the Battle off Texel.[6]

Beckett was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 15 November, 1915.[7]

Beckett was praised by the Admiralty for deftly organizing an attack on German destroyers on 7 April, 1917. He was awarded the D.S.C. for this action, gazetted on 12 May, 1917.[8]

In January, 1918 he was admitted to King Edward VII Hospital to be treated for haemorrhoids. This visit apparently evolved into treatment for urological issues and finally, in March, to involve surgery on a knee. On 11 April, 1918 he was declared fit.

Post-War

On 22 June, 1921, he was appointed in command of the new trawler Boyne. On 15 October, he was relieved spent two weeks on unpaid time before being appointed to the Ramillies on 1 November where he would serve for just over two years.[9]

He submitted a report illustrating the possible role C.M.Bs. might play on the China Station about this time.[10]

He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 15 November, 1923.[11]

In 1924, he submitted a design for a "torpedo indicating device". The Admiralty concluded that it was not practical, but they conveyed their appreciation for his zeal and ingenuity in making the submission.[12]

Beckett married Gladys Hemery Lindon on 30 July, 1928 at St. Luke's in South Kensington, London.[13]

Beckett was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1929.[14]

In 1930, Beckett was cautioned by Rear Admiral (D) after he accidentally destroyed confidential books.

Beckett was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1936.[15]

Beckett was appointed in command of the battleship Centurion in April, 1937.

World War II

He was admitted to Haslar hospital on 10 January, 1940 for three days to treat an old sprain injury on his left ankle and was released fit for duty.[16]

He was appointed to the heavy cruiser Exeter to oversee her repairs on 30 November, 1940, slated to take command upon her commissioning. However, his health was failing him as this work continued. Before the ship was ready to return to service, Beckett died in hospital after an exploratory surgery undertaken in efforts to relieve damage to his lungs from poison gas exposure suffered long before.[17]

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
John W. Durnford
Captain of H.M.S. Somme
12 Nov, 1923[18] – 30 Sep, 1924[19]
Succeeded by
Francis S. W. de Winton
Preceded by
Charles F. Bush
Captain of H.M.S. Vendetta
17 Oct, 1924[20] – 31 Dec, 1926[21]
Succeeded by
George M. Crockett
Preceded by
Ivo W. L. Frewen-Laton
Captain of H.M.S. Velox
14 Apr, 1927[22][23] – 1928[24]
Succeeded by
William D. G. Weir
Preceded by
Herbert M. Hughes
Captain of H.M.S. Whitley
14 Dec, 1928[25] – Mar, 1929[26]
Succeeded by
Colin S. Thomson
Preceded by
Colin S. Thomson
Captain of H.M.S. Versatile
Mar, 1929[27] – 25 Jun, 1929[28]
Succeeded by
Edmund G. N. Rushbrooke
Preceded by
George M. Crockett
Captain of H.M.S. Vendetta
25 Jun, 1929[29] – Sep, 1930[30]
Succeeded by
Jack Donovan
as Captain of H.M.A.S. Vendetta
Preceded by
Peter V. James
Captain of H.M.S. Voyager
Sep, 1930[31] – 12 Jan, 1931[32]
Succeeded by
Thomas H. Troubridge
Preceded by
Philip H. Calderon
Captain of H.M.S. Amazon
1 May, 1933 – 22 Sep, 1933[Inference]
Succeeded by
William D. G. Weir
Preceded by
Francis Howard
Captain of H.M.S. Winchester
5 Jan, 1934[33] – 21 Sep, 1936[34]
Succeeded by
Edward L. Berthon
Preceded by
John D. A. Musters
Captain of H.M.S. Centurion
20 Apr, 1937[35][36] – 4 Jan, 1938[37]
Succeeded by
Richard V. Symonds-Tayler
Preceded by
John H. K. Clegg
Captain (D), Seventh Destroyer Flotilla
24 Sep, 1938[38] – 11 Oct, 1938[39]
Succeeded by
Llewellyn V. Morgan
Preceded by
Piers K. Kekewich
Captain of Devonport Dockyard, Deputy Superintendent and King's Harbour Master
8 Jan, 1939[40] – 9 Sep, 1939[41]
Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
Frederick S. Bell
Captain of H.M.S. Exeter
Dec, 1940[42] – Mar, 1941[43]
Succeeded by
Oliver L. Gordon

Footnotes

  1. Beckett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/100. f. 100.
  2. Beckett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/100. f. 100.
  3. The Navy List. (March, 1913). p. 6.
  4. Beckett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/100. f. 100.
  5. Beckett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/100. f. 100.
  6. Beckett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/100. f. 100.
  7. Beckett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/100. f. 100.
  8. Beckett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/100. f. 100.
  9. Beckett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/100. f. 100.
  10. Beckett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/100. f. 100.
  11. Beckett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/100. f. 100.
  12. Beckett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/100. f. 100.
  13. Beckett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/100. f. 100.
  14. Beckett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/100. f. 100.
  15. Beckett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/100. f. 100.
  16. Beckett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/100. f. 100.
  17. Wikipedia.
  18. Beckett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/100. f. 100.
  19. Beckett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/100. f. 100.
  20. Beckett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/100. f. 100.
  21. Beckett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/100. f. 100.
  22. The Navy List. (July, 1927). p. 279.
  23. Beckett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/100. f. 100.
  24. Beckett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/100. f. 100.
  25. The Navy List. (February, 1929). p. 288.
  26. Beckett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/100. f. 100.
  27. Beckett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/100. f. 100.
  28. Beckett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/100. f. 100.
  29. Beckett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/100. f. 100.
  30. Beckett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/100. f. 100.
  31. Beckett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/100. f. 100.
  32. Beckett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/100. f. 100.
  33. Beckett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/100. f. 100.
  34. Beckett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/100. f. 100.
  35. The Navy List. (July, 1937). p. 222.
  36. Beckett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/100. f. 100.
  37. Beckett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/100. f. 100.
  38. Beckett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/100. f. 100.
  39. Beckett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/100. f. 100.
  40. Beckett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/100. f. 100.
  41. Beckett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/100. f. 100.
  42. Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
  43. Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.