Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Six: Squadron Leader, late Warrant Officer, H. Beattie, Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Air Force, a veteran of the Great War and campaigns in Iraq, who was posthumously mentioned in despatches for services during the Second World War, and was killed on active service when the Wellington in which he was a passenger was lost off the West African coast, 17 January 1945

British War and Victory Medals (208582. Sgt. H. Beattie. R.A.F.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Southern Desert, Iraq (208582. F/Sgt.. H. Beattie. R.A.F.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (W/O. 2. H. Beattie. R.A.F.) mounted on card for display, polished overall, therefore nearly very fine (6) £800-£1,000

M.I.D. London Gazette 14 June 1945 [Posthumous].

Hedley Beattie was born in Gosport, Hampshire in December 1893. He joined the Royal Naval Air Service in October 1915, and served with H.M.S. Ark Royal from July 1917 to September 1918. The Ark Royal, a former seaplane carrier, was by this time serving as a repair and depot ship for the R.N.A.S. at Mudrus in the Aegean. Beattie transferred to the Royal Air Force in April 1918, and remained in the Service post-War. He was posted to the Aircraft Depot, Iraq in October 1932 (his second posting to Iraq) and advanced to Warrant Officer in May 1934. Subsequent postings included to Home Aircraft Depot, Henlow in March 1935; No. 3 F.T.S. Digby, in March 1936; and to No. 1 Apprentice Wing, Halton in July 1937 (awarded his L.S. & G.C. in January 1934).

Beattie was granted a commission for the duration of hostilities as a Flying Officer (seniority 29 November 1940) in the Special Duties (Engineering) Branch, employed on A.I.D. Inspection duties. He advanced to Acting Squadron Leader but was killed whilst a passenger on board a Wellington belonging to 26 Squadron (S.A.A.F.) flying off the West Africa Coast, 17 January 1945 (C.W.G.C. erroneously lists Beattie as belonging to 26 Squadron R.A.F.). It is not known in what capacity he was flying, and one other passenger, along with the entire crew of seven, also perished. Squadron Leader Beattie is buried in Yaba Cemetery, Nigeria.

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