Denis John Beckley DSO, DSC, RN
| Birth details unknown |
| Ranks
Retired: 29 Apr 1964 Decorations
|
Warship Commands listed for Denis John Beckley, RN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HMS P 614 (P 614) | Lt. | Submarine | Jan 1942 | 12 Sep 1942 |
| HMS Sturgeon (N 73) | Lt. | Submarine | Sep 1942 | 19 Dec 1942 |
| HMS Templar (P 316) | Lt. | Submarine | 1 Jan 1943 | 10 Apr 1944 |
| HMS Cowdray (L 52) | Lt. | Escort destroyer | 14 Aug 1944 | Oct 1945 ? |
Career information
We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.
Events related to this officer
Submarine HMS Templar (P 316)
11 Feb 1943
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) departs Barrow for Holy Loch.
12 Feb 1943
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) arrives at Holy Loch to begin a period of trials and training.
22 Mar 1943
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) departs Holy Loch for her 1st war patrol. She is to patrol in the Norwegian Sea. Before proceeding on patrol she is to make a short stop at Lerwick.
For the daily positions of HMS Templar during this patrol see the map below.
HMS Templar 1st war patrolclick here for bigger map
23 Mar 1943
While en-route to Lerwick to top up with fuel and provisions HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) is ordered to proceed to a patrol area of the Lofoten with despatch and not to proceed to Lerwick. Several German 'heavy units' had been on the move in Northern Norway.
10 Apr 1943
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) ends her 1st war patrol at Lerwick.
11 Apr 1943
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) departs Lerwick bound for Holy Loch.
13 Apr 1943
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) arrives at Holy Loch.
18 May 1943
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) is docked at Holy Loch.
19 May 1943
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) is undocked.
25 May 1943
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) departs Holy Loch for Gibraltar.
For the daily positions of HMS Templar during this passage see the map below.
HMS Templar passage Holy Loch - Gibraltarclick here for bigger map
7 Jun 1943
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) arrives at Gibraltar.
13 Jun 1943
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) departs Gibraltar for her 2nd war patrol (1st in the Mediterranean). She is ordered to patrol off Southern France.
For the daily positions of HMS Templar during this patrol see the map below.
HMS Templar 2nd war patrolclick here for bigger map
30 Jun 1943
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) ends her 2nd war patrol (1st in the Mediterranean) at Algiers.
12 Jul 1943
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) departs Algiers for her 3rd war patrol (2nd in the Mediterranean). She is ordered to patrol to the North of Corsica.
For the daily positions of HMS Templar during this patrol see the map below.
HMS Templar 3rd war patrolclick here for bigger map
21 Jul 1943
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) attacks the Italian submarine Axum with 7 torpedoes about 5 nautical miles North-West of Calvi, Corsica, France in position 42º35'N, 08º38'E. All torpedoes fired missed their target.
The Axum was en-route from La Spezia to La Maddalena and observed, in all, 6 torpedo wakes (7 torpedoes had been actually fired, the first torpedo was probably not noticed) and took evasive action. The periscope of the attacker was briefly seen but at such close range that the stern torpedoes were not fired as they would not had the time to be activated.
(All times are zone -2)
1320 hours - In position 42º35'N, 08º38'E sighted U-boat on a course of 210 degrees at a range of 4000 yards. Started attack.
1330 hours - Fired 1 torpedo from 1500 yards (more were intended but Templar was not kept at a steady depth). The torpedo missed.
1333 hours - Upon regaining depth control and return to periscope depth fired 4 torpedoes from 1500 yards. All missed again due to the target altering course.
1340 hours - Fired another 2 torpedoes from 3000 yards. Once again the torpedoes missed.
2 Aug 1943
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) ends her 3rd war patrol (2nd in the Mediterranean) at Algiers.
12 Aug 1943
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) is docked at Algiers.
15 Aug 1943
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) is undocked.
21 Aug 1943
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) departs Algiers bound for Malta. She makes the passage in convoy KMS-23.
For the daily positions of HMS Templar during this passage see the map below.
HMS Templar passage Malta - Beirutclick here for bigger map
24 Aug 1943
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) arrives at Malta.
25 Aug 1943
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) departs Malta for Beirut.
30 Aug 1943
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) arrives at Beirut.
5 Sep 1943
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) departs Beirut for Port Said. It has been decided that Templar is to join the 4th Submarine Flotilla in the Far East.
7 Sep 1943
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) arrives at Port Said. Here she is docked.
8 Sep 1943
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) is undocked.
9 Sep 1943
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) departs Port Said for Aden. She transits the Suez Canal this day.
For the daily positions of HMS Templar during this passage see the map below.
HMS Templar passage Beirut - Colomboclick here for bigger map
16 Sep 1943
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) arrives at Aden
18 Sep 1943
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) departs Aden for Colombo.
29 Sep 1943
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) arrives at Colombo.
9 Oct 1943
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) departs Colombo for her 4th war patrol (1st in the Far East). She is to patrol in the Malacca Staits.
No log is available for October 1943 so no map of this patrol can be displayed.
31 Oct 1943
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) ends her 4th war patrol (1st in the Far East) at Colombo.
10 Nov 1943
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) is docked at Colombo to change a propellor.
11 Nov 1943
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) is undocked.
17 Nov 1943
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) departs Colombo for her 5th war patrol (2nd in the Far East). She is to patrol in the Malacca Staits. A special operation is also to be carried out on the West coast of Siam to the North of Phuket.
For the daily positions of HMS Templar during this patrol see the map below.
HMS Templar 5th war patrolclick here for bigger map
25 Nov 1943
During 25 and 26 November 1943 HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) carries out her special operation (details to follow).
8 Dec 1943
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) ends her 5th war patrol (2nd in the Far East) at Trincomalee.
28 Dec 1943
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) departs Trincomalee for her 6th war patrol (3rd in the Far East). She is to patrol off the West coast of Siam and the approaches to the Malacca Staits.
For the daily positions of HMS Templar during this patrol see the map below.
HMS Templar 6th war patrolclick here for bigger map
1 Jan 1944
On board HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) the high power periscope flooded up. Non the less she continues her patrol.
4 Jan 1944
Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN decides to abandon HMS Templar's 6th war patrol. The high power periscope had flooded up several days ago but besides that there were problems with radar and compass. Course is set to return to Trincomalee.
8 Jan 1944
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) ends her 6th war patrol (3rd in the Far East) at Trincomalee.
8 Jan 1944
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) carrys out a special operation (Details to follow).
18 Jan 1944
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) departs Trincomalee for her 7th war patrol (4th in the Far East). She is to patrol in the Malacca Staits. She is also to perform a special operation.
For the daily positions of HMS Templar during this patrol see the map below.
HMS Templar 7th war patrolclick here for bigger map
24 Jan 1944
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) attacks a Japanese submarine with 6 torpedoes about 60 nautical miles South of Penang in position 04º20'N, 100º20'E. All torpedoes missed their, so far unidentified, target.
(All times are zone -7)
1155 hours - Sighted Japanese submarine bearing Green 60 degrees, range 6000 yards. The enemy's course was estimated to be 345 derees. Started attack.
1204 hours - Fired 6 torpedoes from 5000 yards as the distance could not be closed.
1208 hours - It was observed that the enemy's course was now 030 degrees meaning the torpedoes must have passed ahead. At one commenced to run in at speed to attack with the remaining two bow torpedoes (in external tubes 7 and 8).
1211 hours - Sighted the enemy to hve altered course to the West and disappearing in a cloud of smoke. They must have sighted the torpedo tracks. Abandoned the attack.
26 Jan 1944
The Japanese light cruiser Kitakami (offsite link) was torpedoed and damaged by two torpedoes from HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) in the Malacca Strait south west off Penang in position 05º00'N, 98º25'E.
(All times are zone -7)
26 January 1944
2312 hours - Heard HE to the Northward. Turned towards and almost immediately sighted a ship at high speed. Commenced attack.
2314 hours - More HE was reported. Sighted the ship sighted was most likely a destroyer.
2316 hours - Sighted a cruiser and turned to attack. The course of the enemy was estimated as 130 degrees, speed 20 knots.
2318 hours - Fired 8 torpedoes from 7000 yards. When the last torpedo was fired Templar went deep.
2325 hours - Heard a torpedo explosion giving a running range of 6800 yards. The explosion was followed by several smaller explosions.
2350 hours - Heard a destroyer circling at high speed.
2356 hours - Heard 2 explosions, most likely depth charges.
27 January 1944
0002 hours - Two more explosions, most likely also depth charges.
0005 hours - Heard the destroyer leaving the area.
0400 hours - Surfaced.
31 Jan 1944
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) attacks a Japanese submarine with her last 3 torpedoes about 60 nautical miles South of Penang in position 04º20'N, 100º21'E. All torpedoes missed their, so far unidentified, target.
Templar was out of torpedoes after this attack. She had to remain on patrol as she had to carry out a special operation on 8 January 1944.
(All times are zone -7)
1137 hours - In position 04º20'N, 100º21'E sighted a Japanese submarine proceeding to the Northward. Started attack.
1142 hours - Fired the last three (stern) torpedoes from 7000 yards.
1150 hours - Two torpedoes exploded. The submarine was out of sight at this time, only a patch of smoke could be seen.
12 Feb 1944
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) ends her 7th war patrol (4th in the Far East) at Trincomalee.
16 Feb 1944
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) departs Trincomalee bound for Colombo where she is to dock.
18 Feb 1944
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) arrives at Colombo and is put into dock immediately.
26 Feb 1944
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) is undocked. She departs Colombo for Trincomalee later the same day.
28 Feb 1944
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) arrives at Trincomalee.
1 Mar 1944
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) departs Trincomalee for her 8th war patrol (5th in the Far East). She is to patrol in the Malacca Staits.
For the daily positions of HMS Templar during this patrol see the map below.
HMS Templar 8th war patrolclick here for bigger map
13 Mar 1944
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) is detected and depth charged by a Japanese submarine chaser. 31 Depth charges in all were dropped. No damage is done.
28 Mar 1944
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) ends her 8th war patrol (5th in the Far East) at Trincomalee.