Walter Napier Thomason Beckett | |
|---|---|
| Born | 25 March 1893 |
| Died | 10 March 1941 |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |  Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1906–1941 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Commands | -HM Coastal Motor Boat 4 (1916) Belgian Coast -HM Coastal Motor Boat 14 (1917) Portsmouth and Osea Island -HM Coastal Motor Boat 86c (1919) North Russia – Dwina River Force -HMS Vendetta (1926) Mediterranean -HMS Velox (1928) Atlantic Fleet -HMS Vendetta (1930) Mediterranean -HMS Amazon (1933) Irish Waters -HMS Winchester (1936) Senior Officer "Vernon" Flotilla -HMS Centurion (1937) Target Ship (Home Fleet) -HMS Drake (1939) Captain of Dockyard, Deputy Superintendent and King's Harbour Master of Devonport Dockyard -HMS Exeter (1940) |
| Battles/wars | World War I - Heligoland Bight (28 August 1914) |
| Awards | Member of the Victorian Order Distinguished Service Cross Mentioned in Dispatches |
Captain Walter Napier Thomason Beckett, MVO, DSC (1893 – 1941) was a noted Royal Navy officer in both the First World War and the Second World War. He was known to most people as "Joe" Beckett, after a famous British boxer of the same era, as they shared the same surname. Beckett was also a capable amateur boxer, holding the title of Royal Navy Heavyweight boxing champion for some time.
In Fabulous Admirals and some naval fragments published in 1957, Beckett is described as "an Elizabethan character, who was rough, tough, large and strong, and his words smelt of tar, spunyarn, sound commonsense and humour." The author, Commander Geoffrey Lowis RN, included a chapter on Beckett whom he thought a great character. Much of this article is drawn from that book.