Rank: Lieutenant-Commander
Unit: HMS Campbeltown, Royal Navy
Awarded: 22nd June 1945
Nationality: Britsih
The citation in the London Gazette of 19th May 1942 contains the following details:
For great gallantry and determination in the attack on St. Nazaire in command of H.M.S. Campbeltown. Under intense fire directed at the bridge from point blank range of about loo yards, and in the face- of the blinding glare of many searchlights, he steamed her into the lock-gates and beached and scuttled her in the correct position. This Victoria Cross is awarded to Lieutenant-Commander Beattie in recognition not only of his own valour but also of that of the unnamed officers and men of a very gallant ship's company, many of whom have not returned.
Additional Information
Beattie received this award not only for himself but for the Officers and other ranks of the ships comapny that did not survive.
Beattie later achieved the rank of Captain.
Beattie later became the Naval Adviser to the Ethiopian Government.