| Beatty | David | | Lieutenant | BEATTY, DAVID, Lieutenant, Royal Navy, was born in 1871, son of Captain D L Beatty, of Borodale. County Wexford. He entered the Royal Navy in 1884; was employed on the Nile, in the Sudan, in co-operation with the Egyptian Army under the Sirdar, Sir H Kitchener, KCB, and rendered excellent service in getting the gunboats over the cataract. He was second in command of the flotilla at the forcing of the Dervishes' batteries at Hafir, and exposed to a heavy fire. He took command of the flotilla on Commander Colvin being wounded, and fought the gunboats in front of the enemy's batteries most persistently and successfully, eventually bombarding their position at Dongola and dismounting their guns. For this service he was mentioned in Despatches and created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 17 November 1896]: "David Beatty, Lieutenant, Royal Navy. In recognition of services during the recent operations in the Sudan". He was mentioned in Despatches by the Sirdar for services with the gunboats employed on the Nile during the operations of 1893 in the Sudan, including the battles of Atbara and Khartoum (Medal; promoted to Commander, and awarded the 4th Class of the Order of the Medjidie, 1898). As Commander of the Barfleur he showed exceptional tenacity in endeavouring, with 200 bluejackets, to capture the Chinese guns that caused considerable trouble to the forces and inhabitants at Tien-tsin, June 1900. He managed to get dose to the guns, but a heavy fire therefrom necessitated withdrawing his force. Although twice wounded, he still led his men in the attack. He was promoted to Captain in November 1900, for these services. On 28 April 1905, he was created an MVO, and on 5 November 1908, was appointed Aide-de-Camp to the King. He became Rear Admiral 1 January 1910; was created a CB on the Coronation of King George V 19 June 1911. From 8 January 1912, to February 1913, he was Naval Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty. During the Naval Manoeuvres in July 1912, he was Rear Admiral commanding the Sixth Cruiser Squadron, with his flag in HMS Aboukir. He was Rear Admiral commanding the First Cruiser Squadron from 1 March 1913, and on 22 June 1913, was created a KCB On 3 August 1914, he was promoted to Acting Vice Admiral. Vice Admiral Sir David Beatty, in HMS Lion, commanded the force engaged with the German Squadron in Heligoland Bight on 28 August 1914, which resulted in the destruction of the German cruisers Mainz, Ariadne and Koln, and several destroyers. Sir David Beatty also commanded the force engaged with the German battle and armoured cruisers, light cruisers and destroyers, off the Dogger Bank, 24 January 1915, when the Blucher was sunk and other vessels severely injured [London Gazette, 3 March 1915]. For his services in the Battle of Jutland Bank, 81 May 1916, Admiral Beatty was created a KCVO and was mentioned by Sir John Jellicoe in his Despatch (dated 6 July 1916): "Sir David Beatty once again showed his fine qualities of gallant leadership, firm determination, and correct strategic insight. He appreciated the situations at once on sighting first the enemy's lighter forces, then his battle cruisers, and finally his battle fleet. I can fully sympathize with his feelings when the evening mist and fading light robbed the Fleet of that complete victory for which he had manoeuvred and for which the vessels in company with him had striven so hard. The services rendered by him, not only on this, but on two previous occasions, have been of the very greatest value". Sir David Beatty was created a GCB in 1916, and a GCVO in 1917. He commanded the Grand Fleet from 1910. He was created an Earl in 1919. Earl Beatty was a Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour; and he held the Order of St George of Russia (4th Class). He married in 1901, Ethel, only daughter of Marshall Field, senior, of Chicago, and they had two sons.
GCB (mil), GCVO, OM (mil), DSO, Queen's Sudan, China 1900 (1) RofP, 1914-15 Star, BWM, VM, 1897 Jubilee, 1902 Coronation, 1935 Jubilee, Russia Order of St George 4th Class, France Croix de Guerre, Turkey Order of Medjidie 4th Class, USA DSM (Navy), Khedive Sudan (4) Khartoum Atbara Hafir (plus one other). Queen's House, Greenwich.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | Royal Navy |
