Description
Object description
Photocopies of his ms letter (1p, February 2002) to Edwin Horlington enclosing his short but informative ms memoir (6pp, c.2002), which was written for his family and records how "5 men in a clapped out little trawler", rescued nearly 300 British and New Zealand troops from Crete in four trips after the main evacuation from the island (December 1941 – ?June 1942), including the reconnaissance made by Commander Francis G Pool DSO RNR of Crete (July 1941- August 1941), who was subsequently awarded the DSO and made head of the para-naval section of SOE in HQ Cairo; acting as Number 1 (Second-in-Command) to Commander Pool; re-equipping and arming in Alexandria (no dates) "a rusty old trawler", HMS HEDGEHOG, which was infested with cockroaches, and a small caique, which had escaped from Crete; sailing to Crete to land stores and Special Forces personnel and returning with troops (December 1941 – ?June 1942) who were attempting to escape from Greece and Crete (Major Beckinsale was awarded the MC for his exploits during the four voyages); and also mentioning Brigadier George P J R Jellicoe, 2nd Earl Jellicoe KBE DSO MC (SBS), Lieutenant Colonel T J (Tom) Dunbabin DSO (SOE), Major P M (Paddy) Leigh-Fermor DSO OBE (SOE), and John Medley DCM* (SOE).
Content description
Photocopies of his ms letter (1p, February 2002) to Edwin Horlington enclosing his short but informative ms memoir (6pp, c.2002), which was written for his family and records how "5 men in a clapped out little trawler", rescued nearly 300 British and New Zealand troops from Crete in four trips after the main evacuation from the island (December 1941 – ?June 1942), including the reconnaissance made by Commander Francis G Pool DSO RNR of Crete (July 1941- August 1941), who was subsequently awarded the DSO and made head of the para-naval section of SOE in HQ Cairo; acting as Number 1 (Second-in-Command) to Commander Pool; re-equipping and arming in Alexandria (no dates) "a rusty old trawler", HMS HEDGEHOG, which was infested with cockroaches, and a small caique, which had escaped from Crete; sailing to Crete to land stores and Special Forces personnel and returning with troops (December 1941 – ?June 1942) who were attempting to escape from Greece and Crete (Major Beckinsale was awarded the MC for his exploits during the four voyages); and also mentioning Brigadier George P J R Jellicoe, 2nd Earl Jellicoe KBE DSO MC (SBS), Lieutenant Colonel T J (Tom) Dunbabin DSO (SOE), Major P M (Paddy) Leigh-Fermor DSO OBE (SOE), and John Medley DCM* (SOE).
History note
SNI-R