John Becke

Brigadier General John Harold Whitworth Becke, CMG, DSO, AFC (17 September 1879 – 7 February 1949) was an infantry officer in the Second Boer War and squadron, wing and brigade commander in the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War. He transferred to the Royal Air Force (RAF) on its creation on 1 April 1918 as a temporary brigadier general. He retired from the RAF in 1920.

For other people with similar names, see John Beck (disambiguation).

John Becke
Brigadier General Becke
Born(1879-09-17)17 September 1879
Liverpool, England
Died7 February 1949(1949-02-07) (aged 69)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Army (1899–1918)
Royal Air Force (1918–20)
Years of service1899–1920
RankBrigadier General
Commands heldII Brigade RFC (1917–18)
IV Brigade RFC (1916–17)
1st (Corps) Wing RFC (1915–16)
No. 2 Squadron RFC (1915)
No. 6 Squadron RFC (1914–15)
Battles/warsSecond Boer War
First World War
AwardsCompanion of the Order of St Michael and St George
Distinguished Service Order
Air Force Cross
Mentioned in Despatches (2)
Officer of the Legion of Honour (France)
Croix de guerre (France)

He was born in Liverpool on 17 September 1879. As a captain in the Sherwood Foresters, he was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps and awarded his Royal Aero Club aviators certificate on 18 June 1912 flying a Bristol Biplane at Brooklands.[1] Becke was the first commanding officer of No. 6 Squadron, one of a handful of flying squadrons to be established before the First World War.

Becke at Upper Dysart in 1913.

References
  1. Royal Aero Club record card #236
Military offices
New title
Squadron established
 Commanding Officer No. 6 Squadron RFC
1914–1915		 Succeeded by
Gordon Shephard
Preceded by
Sir Tom Webb-Bowen		 Commanding Officer No. 2 Squadron RFC
1915		 Succeeded by
C F de S Murphy
Preceded by
Edward Ashmore		 Officer Commanding 1st Wing RFC
1915–1916		 Succeeded by
Unknown
Preceded by
Edward Ashmore		 Brigadier-General Commanding IV Brigade RFC
1917		 Brigade disbanded
Preceded by
Tom Webb-Bowen		 Brigadier-General Commanding II Brigade RFC
1917–1918		 Succeeded by
Tom Webb-Bowen


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