World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseStephen Halden Beattie was born in Leighton, Montgomeryshire, Wales, United Kingdom in 1908. He was educated at Abberley Hall School in Worcester, Worcestershire, England before joining the Royal Navy in 1925. He commanded destroyed HMS Vivien between Jul 1940 and Jan 1942. In Mar 1942, he was made the commanding officer of destroyer HMS Campbeltown. On 28 March 1942, Lieutenant Commander Beattie commanded his destroyer on a one-way mission to Saint-Nazaire, France. During that mission, he rammed his ship into the southern caisson of the German-occupied important naval port, delivering commandos who would ultimately destroy all their primary objectives. Beattie, who planned to be evacuated by one of the motor torpedo boats that accompanied the raid, became captured. He was held as a prisoner of war for the remainder of the war. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for his accomplishments during the raid. He reached the rank of captain before retirement in 1960. In 1965, he served under the government of Ethiopia as a naval advisor. He passed away at Mullion, Cornwall, England and was buried at Ruan Minor Churchyard in nearby Heston.

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Stephen Beattie Timeline