Kenneth Adair Beattie

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Captain (retired) Kenneth Adair Beattie, D.S.O. (3 April, 1883 – 17 January, 1940) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Though he turned in the second-worst examination with just 306 marks,[1] Beattie gained three months' time on passing out of Britannia. He first served in the battleship Hannibal in the Channel Squadron, appointed on 1 June, 1899.

Beattie was appointed to the Griffon on 1 January, 1904. He was in her until being removed in May owing to his "unsuitability for that appointment." He was sent to join Irresistible in the Mediterranean.

Beattie was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 June, 1905. On 4 July, 1905 he joined Majestic. In September, it was noted that he had "very little knowledge of his duties" and it was decided that he should be subjected to quarterly reports. Slow but sufficient improvement was noted until March 1906 when Captain Kingsmill noted "has made much improvement." Beattie left Majestic when she paid off on 1 October, 1906 and on 6 November was appointed to Highflyer, in which he would spend nearly two years.[2]

Highflyer paid off on 18 September, 1908 and on 12 October Beattie was appointed to the second class protected cruiser Forte. Beattie served in Forte until she paid off on 11 April, 1911.[3]

Beattie was appointed in command of the destroyer Leven on 31 October, 1911.[4]

He was appointed in command of the destroyer Beaver on 20 January, 1914.[5]

In May 1914, Beattie damaged his destroyer when entering the dock at Grangemouth and was cautioned by a Court of Enquiry. Nonetheless, he drove Beaver into the North Pier at Felixstowe on 30 July, 1914 and was lucky to simply be informed that he should be more careful in future.

On 12 March 1915 a telegram reported that Beattie was in Queensferry Hospital, likely to be sick for three weeks. Lieutenant-Commander Raymond Jocelyn Harris-St. John took over temporary command of Beaver. On the 18th, Beattie was diagnosed with neuritis in the wake of influenza. On 1 April, he was discharged to rejoin Beaver.[6]

On 1 May, Beattie lost copy number 281 of W/T Service Call Signs Book No. 1, 1915, which prompted an expression of Their Lordships' displeasure.

Beattie commanded the destroyer Pelican at the Battle of Jutland, where she operated with the Thirteenth Destroyer Flotilla.[7]

Beattie was recommended for his service in the destruction of an enemy submarine on 19 August, 1916, but there does not appear to be any U-Boat losses that correspond to the claim.[8][9]

On 15 September, 1917, he was appointed in command of the destroyer Vanquisher.[10]

Post-War

Beattie was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1918.

After completing a stint in command of Wakeful, Captain Willis evaluated Beattie as "quiet in manner, but not overburdened with zeal."

Beattie was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 25 September, 1922.[11]

Beattie was promoted to the rank of Captain on the Retired List on 3 April, 1928.[12]

World War II

After receiving a week's training at the Royal Naval College in Greenwich, Beattie was appointed in command of the yacht H.M.S. Warrior II on 9 September 1939.

On 8 December, 1939, Beattie was appointed in command of the sloop H.M.S. Auckland. However, he was admitted to Chatham Hospital with acute bronchitis and right heart failure on 17 January, 1940 and died that very same day.

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Henry T. Dorling 		Captain of H.M.S. Leven
31 Oct, 1911[13][14] – 20 Jan, 1914[15] 		Succeeded by
William J. F. Dunlop
Preceded by
Arthur B. S. Dutton 		Captain of H.M.S. Beaver
20 Jan, 1914[16][17] – 7 May, 1916[18] 		Succeeded by
Raymond J. Harris
Preceded by
Joseph B. Newill 		Captain of H.M.S. Pelican
7 May, 1916[19] – 15 Sep, 1917[20] 		Succeeded by
Kenneth F. Sworder
Preceded by
New Command 		Captain of H.M.S. Vanquisher
15 Sep, 1917[21][22] – 5 Nov, 1920[23] 		Succeeded by
Arthur J. Landon
Preceded by
Malcolm Murray 		Captain of H.M.S. Wakeful
5 Jan, 1921[24] – 2 Mar, 1922[25] 		Succeeded by
Percy R. P. Percival

Footnotes

  1. ↑ The Times (London, England), Thursday, Apr 13, 1899; pg. 10; Issue 35802.
  2. ↑ Beattie Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/125. f. ?.
  3. ↑ Beattie Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/125. f. ?.
  4. ↑ The Navy List. (July, 1913). p. 339.
  5. ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1915). p. 280.
  6. ↑ Beattie Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/125. f. ?.
  7. ↑ Battle of Jutland Official Despatches. pp. 34, 46.
  8. ↑ Beattie Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/125. f. ?.
  9. ↑ Uboat.net.
  10. ↑ The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 924.
  11. ↑ Beattie Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/125. f. ?.
  12. ↑ Beattie Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/125. f. ?.
  13. ↑ Beattie Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/125. f. ?.
  14. ↑ The Navy List. (July, 1913). p. 339.
  15. ↑ Beattie Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/125. f. ?.
  16. ↑ Beattie Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/125. f. ?.
  17. ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 392i.
  18. ↑ Beattie Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/125. f. ?.
  19. ↑ Beattie Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/125. f. ?.
  20. ↑ Beattie Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/125. f. ?.
  21. ↑ Beattie Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/125. f. ?.
  22. ↑ The Navy List. (November, 1920). p. 879b.
  23. ↑ Beattie Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/125. f. ?.
  24. ↑ Beattie Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/125. f. ?.
  25. ↑ Beattie Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/125. f. ?.

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