W. N. T. 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 HM Coastal Motor Boat 14 HM Coastal Motor Boat 86c HMS Vendetta HMS Velox HMS Vendetta HMS Amazon HMS Winchester HMS Centurion HMS Drake HMS Exeter |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards | Member of the Victorian Order Distinguished Service Cross Mentioned in Dispatches |
Captain Walter Napier Thomason Beckett MVO DSC (25 March 1893 – 10 March 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.