Stephen Halden Beattie
Lieutenant Commander, Royal Navy
- Register No.
- 69 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lieutenant Commander all Lieutenant-Commanders →
- Unit
- Royal Navy (register: HMS Campbeltown) all HMS Campbeltown VCs →
- Date of action
- 27 March 1942 on this day → all of 1942 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second World War
- London Gazette
- 21st May 1942 on this day → all of 1942 →
- Born
- 29th March 1908 at Leighton, Montgomery, Wales
- Died
- 24th April 1975 at Mullion, Cornwall
- Memorial / grave
- at Ruan Minor Churchyard, Helston, Cornwall
- Medal held by
- the Imperial War Museum
Digest of citation
On 27th March 1942, in the attack St. Nazaire, France, Lieutenant Commander Beattie was in command of HMS Campbeltown. Under intense fire directed on the bridge from a range of about 100 yards, and in the full blinding glare of many Searchlights, the Lieutenant Commander steamed Campbeltown into the lock gates, as instructed, and beached and scuttled her in the correct position. The Victoria Cross was awarded not only in recognition of Lieutenant Commander Beattie's own valour, but also of the unnamed officers and men of the ship's company, many of whom did not survive
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
BEATTIE, Stephen Halden. (Reg.No. 69).
Lieutenant Commander Royal Navy.
London Gazetted on 21st May 1942.
VC Medal's Custodian is the Imperial War Museum.
Born on 29th March 1908 at Leighton, Montgomery, Wales.
Died on 24th April 1975 at Mullion, Cornwall.
Memorial on grave at Ruan Minor Churchyard, Helston, Cornwall.
Digest of Citation reads: On 27th March 1942, in the attack St. Nazaire, France, Lieutenant Commander Beattie was in command of HMS Campbeltown. Under intense fire directed on the bridge from a range of about 100 yards, and in the full blinding glare of many Searchlights, the Lieutenant Commander steamed Campbeltown into the lock gates, as instructed, and beached and scuttled her in the correct position. The Victoria Cross was awarded not only in recognition of Lieutenant Commander Beattie's own valour, but also of the unnamed officers and men of the ship's company, many of whom did not survive.
Additional information: Captain Beattie held the Croix de Guerre avec Palmes and the Legion d'Honneur (France). In 1956-58 he was a senior naval officer in the Persian Gulf. During that the years 1965 to 1969 he was naval adviser to the Ethiopian government.
Additional information
Captain Beattie held the Croix de Guerre avec Palmes and the Legion d'Honneur (France). In 1956-58 he was a senior naval officer in the Persian Gulf. During that the years 1965 to 1969 he was naval adviser to the Ethiopian government.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Ruan Minor Churchyard, Helston, Cornwall
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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