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Beck, Anthony Francis Vernon

Date of birth:
April 5th, 1919 (Rawalpindi, India)
Service number:
IA 1050 (Indian Army) / 3718574 (Roal Army)
Nationality:
British (1801-present, Kingdom)

Biography

Anthony Beck was educated at Magdalene College School, Oxford, and attended the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He arrived in India end of August 1939. He was wounded during the 4th Burma Campaign. In June 1947 he returned to England and transferred to the Royal Artillery, leaving the Army in 1948.

Promotions:
July 1st, 1939: 2nd Lieutenant (unattached list);
April 26th, 1940: 2nd Lieutenant (Indian Army, seniority January 29th, 1940);
July 3rd, 1940: acting Captain;
October 3rd, 1940: Lieutenant (war subs);
October 3rd, 1940: temporary Captain;
January 1st, 1941: Lieutenant;
December 18th, 1944: Captain (special list);
July 1st, 1946: Captain.
June 25th, 1948: Major (honorary)

Career:
?: Magdalene College School, Oxford;
?: Royal Military College, Sandhurst;
July 1st, 1939: Unattached List Indian Army, attached 1st Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment;
December 6th, 1939: 1/12 Frontier Force;
April 1941: 9/12 Frontier Force;
December 18th, 1944: Company Commander;
April 1945: 1st Battalion, Frontier Force;
June 1947 - 1948: Royal Artillery.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Temporary Captain
Unit:
12th Frontier Force Regiment, Indian Army
Awarded on:
January 10th, 1946
Citation:
”On 23rd January (1945) the battalion less A and C companies who were on their separate tasks moved to Chauka on the main road to Monywa and about 12 miles short of it. The next day D company under Major Beck was also sent as Mocol 3 on a long range penetration task to operate behind the enemy on their lines of communication in the Naungbyubin area. The company reached this village on the 25th and set up a base to the North of it. Before however it could set about preparing an ambush it was discovered by the enemy who opened fire from three sides. The company appeared to be in danger of being surrounded and Major Beck asked for an air strike but this was impracticable owing to the enemy being so close. He hung on but by evening enemy fire was causing casualties and Major Beck decided to withdraw from what appeared a dangerous position. At first there was some difficulty in disengaging but later an organised withdrawal by bounds was carried out. During this Major Beck was himself hit but refused assistance until he was too weak to continue. He was taken back on an improvised stretcher managing all the while to direct the withdrawal. This was done by compass and the night was spent in safety out of touch of the enemy who had been between 200 and 300 strong considerably outnumbering the company.”
Mentioned in Dispatches
Rank:
Second-Lieutenant

Awarded with clasp "NORTH WEST FRONTIER 1937-39"
India General Service Medal (1936 IGSM)

Sources

Photo