William Becke
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Colonel William 'Bill' Hugh Adamson Becke CMG DSO, (24 September 1916 – 3 April 2009) was a British
army officer, best remembered for his heroism during the Indonesian Confrontation.
, the son of Brigadier John Becke, one of the first officers of the Royal Flying Corp and was educated initially in Scotland then at Charterhouse School
and RMA Sandhurst
in January 1937, who he served with until 1942, he served in Palestine until the outbreak of the war, following this he became signals officer in Cyprus and Egypt and at Tobruk until shortly before it fell. He commanded a company of the 11th battalion in Iraq, Syria and Algeria then landed in the bitter fighting for the Anzio beachhead.
He then served with the 14th Battalion throughout Africa and Italy where he was severely wounded. It was then that he was awarded his DSO at San Savino, for his gallantry in a night attack on German tanks after the Anzio landing in Italy in January 1944 with his battalion. He was wounded in the leg and arm. During World War II, Becke also served in the Channel Isles, Palestine, Cyprus, Egypt and Syria.
After the war, Becke returned to the 1st Battalion where he commanded B Company. He also served in the War Office 1945–1949.
In 1949, Becke was appointed assistant adjutant-general to the British Military Mission in Athens, where he served until 1952. He then returned to The War Office 1953–1955. In 1956 he returned to active service as second in command to the 1st Battalion in British Army Of the Rhine.
From 1957 to 1959, he was assistant military advisor to the British high commission in Karachi. In 1960 he was appointed as leader of the two-man Military Attaché
at the British Embassy in Djakarta, Indonesia
. He was assisted by Major Rory Walker.
On September 16, 1963, an organised mob of several thousand demonstrators formed in the city of Djakarta, they sacked the Malaysian Embassy before marching on the British Embassy where Becke and Walker were on guard, they tore down the Union Jack and burnt the Ambassador's car, then threw stones and pieces of concrete through the fence breaking all the embassy windows. In what is now a legendary act Walker strode up and down in front of the building, dodging the missiles and relentlessly playing his bagpipes
despite pleas from the police and the leader of the demonstrators, eventually the mob broke up and the battle was won.
Two days later however the mob returned and broke through the fence besieging the building and eventually setting it on fire, Becke, Walker and the Ambassador Sir Andrew Gilchrist
bravely stood their ground taking a stand on British sovereign soil and defending the embassy strong room.
Becke's bravery in Jakarta earned him appointment as a Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 1964 New Year Honours list. However during the problems his bungalow was ransacked and torched and he lost everything. Becke retired from the army in 1966.
. He left the UK for Victoria, Australia in 1974. He lived in the Cottage at Government House, Melbourne, entertaining many visitors. He continued as an honorary adjutant when he moved to become personnel officer with the Gas and Fuel Corporation of Victoria.
He was a senior marshal for the RSL's Anzac Day march between 1977 and 1999, he was also a keen hockey player and he served as honorary treasurer of the National Trust spire appeal for Christ Church in South Yarra, where he was a committed member of the congregation.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
army officer, best remembered for his heroism during the Indonesian Confrontation.
Early Life and training
Becke was born on 24 September 1916 in WorcestershireWorcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
, the son of Brigadier John Becke, one of the first officers of the Royal Flying Corp and was educated initially in Scotland then at Charterhouse School
Charterhouse School
Charterhouse School, originally The Hospital of King James and Thomas Sutton in Charterhouse, or more simply Charterhouse or House, is an English collegiate independent boarding school situated at Godalming in Surrey.Founded by Thomas Sutton in London in 1611 on the site of the old Carthusian...
and RMA Sandhurst
Career
Becke was commissioned into the 1st Battalion of the Sherwood ForestersSherwood Foresters
The Sherwood Foresters was formed during the Childers Reforms in 1881 from the amalgamation of the 45th Regiment of Foot and the 95th Regiment of Foot...
in January 1937, who he served with until 1942, he served in Palestine until the outbreak of the war, following this he became signals officer in Cyprus and Egypt and at Tobruk until shortly before it fell. He commanded a company of the 11th battalion in Iraq, Syria and Algeria then landed in the bitter fighting for the Anzio beachhead.
He then served with the 14th Battalion throughout Africa and Italy where he was severely wounded. It was then that he was awarded his DSO at San Savino, for his gallantry in a night attack on German tanks after the Anzio landing in Italy in January 1944 with his battalion. He was wounded in the leg and arm. During World War II, Becke also served in the Channel Isles, Palestine, Cyprus, Egypt and Syria.
After the war, Becke returned to the 1st Battalion where he commanded B Company. He also served in the War Office 1945–1949.
In 1949, Becke was appointed assistant adjutant-general to the British Military Mission in Athens, where he served until 1952. He then returned to The War Office 1953–1955. In 1956 he returned to active service as second in command to the 1st Battalion in British Army Of the Rhine.
From 1957 to 1959, he was assistant military advisor to the British high commission in Karachi. In 1960 he was appointed as leader of the two-man Military Attaché
Military attaché
A military attaché is a military expert who is attached to a diplomatic mission . This post is normally filled by a high-ranking military officer who retains the commission while serving in an embassy...
at the British Embassy in Djakarta, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. He was assisted by Major Rory Walker.
The Indonesian Confrontation
During his posting the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation began, when Britain as part of the dismantling of the Empire in Southeast Asia, proposed to combine its colonies on Borneo with the Federation of Malaya to form a new country called Malaysia. The move was opposed by neighboring country of Indonesia, who believed that it was a ploy to increase British control over the region and would eventually threaten their independence.On September 16, 1963, an organised mob of several thousand demonstrators formed in the city of Djakarta, they sacked the Malaysian Embassy before marching on the British Embassy where Becke and Walker were on guard, they tore down the Union Jack and burnt the Ambassador's car, then threw stones and pieces of concrete through the fence breaking all the embassy windows. In what is now a legendary act Walker strode up and down in front of the building, dodging the missiles and relentlessly playing his bagpipes
Bagpipes
Bagpipes are a class of musical instrument, aerophones, using enclosed reeds fed from a constant reservoir of air in the form of a bag. Though the Scottish Great Highland Bagpipe and Irish uilleann pipes have the greatest international visibility, bagpipes of many different types come from...
despite pleas from the police and the leader of the demonstrators, eventually the mob broke up and the battle was won.
Two days later however the mob returned and broke through the fence besieging the building and eventually setting it on fire, Becke, Walker and the Ambassador Sir Andrew Gilchrist
Andrew Gilchrist
Sir Andrew Graham Gilchrist, KCMG was a Special Operations Executive operative and later a UK ambassador.-Early career in Foreign Office and SOE:...
bravely stood their ground taking a stand on British sovereign soil and defending the embassy strong room.
Becke's bravery in Jakarta earned him appointment as a Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 1964 New Year Honours list. However during the problems his bungalow was ransacked and torched and he lost everything. Becke retired from the army in 1966.
Post retirement
Becke returned to the UK in 1966 and later decided to move to Australia with his wife. He gained the post of private secretary and comptroller to the last British governor of Victoria, Major-General Sir Rohan DelacombeRohan Delacombe
Major General Sir Rohan Delacombe, KCMG, KBE, CB, DSO, KStJ was a British military officer who commanded the British occupation forces in Berlin from 1959 to 1962 at the height of the Cold War...
. He left the UK for Victoria, Australia in 1974. He lived in the Cottage at Government House, Melbourne, entertaining many visitors. He continued as an honorary adjutant when he moved to become personnel officer with the Gas and Fuel Corporation of Victoria.
Personal life
In 1945, Becke married Mary Richmond, a nurse from New South Wales who was serving in Scotland.He was a senior marshal for the RSL's Anzac Day march between 1977 and 1999, he was also a keen hockey player and he served as honorary treasurer of the National Trust spire appeal for Christ Church in South Yarra, where he was a committed member of the congregation.