Beckett, Samuel Nicoll
Personal Information
Rank | W/O |
Forename(s) | Samuel Nicoll |
Surname | Beckett |
Gender | M |
Age | |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 11-04-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Samuel Nicholl Beckett and Elizabeth Swanton Beckett. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Vickers Wellington X |
Serial Number | HE636 |
Markings | AL- |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Rheinberg War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Coll. grave 8. K. 12-17. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 129 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 970018 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 429 (Bison) |
Trade | Air Bomber |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Village Centre, Sutton on the Forest, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone & Metal Sun Dial |
Memorial Text | A memorial to all those who served at RAF East Moor and in particular 415 Sqn RCAF |
Miscellaneous Information
He had been a scout with 74th Belfast (Royal Academical School) Group. |
His brother, 521319 Sgt John Archibald Beckett, was killed whilst servicing a Lancaster aircraft post-war. He was awarded the George Cross (GC) and the following details are given in the London Gazette of 12th December, 1947. "On the night of 28th March, 1947, during re-fuelling operations on a Lancaster aircraft, a violent fire broke out suddenly in the pumping compartment of the refuelling vehicle of which Sgt. Beckett was the driver. There was grave danger that the main tank of this vehicle containing over two thousand gallons of fuel, would explode. This would almost certainly have resulted in the destruction of more than twenty aircraft in the park. Despite serious burns on the hands and face, Sgt. Beckett drove the blazing vehicle about 400 yards to a point outside the aircraft park where it could cause no further damage. He then collapsed, and on 12th April he died. There is no doubt that his prompt and gallant action saved a number of valuable aircraft from destruction and his comrades working in the vicinity from serious injury". His epitaph reads: "HIS UNSELFISH GALLANTRY SAVED MANY COMRADES" |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1852/8 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1852/7 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 10-04-1943 |
End Date | 11-04-1943 |
Takeoff Station | East Moor |
Day/Night Raid | Night (35% moon) |
Operation | Frankfurt. 502 aircraft, 21 losses (4.2%). Complete cloud cover lead to another failed operation. No deaths in the city itself but 18 reported in the surrounding areas, in stark contrast to the 108 losses in the air |
Reason for Loss | Lost over Germany |