Hi all I'm trying to find out how well Brigadier Merton Beckwith-Smith did with the BEF in 1939-40. I believe he went over to France, commanding the1st Guards Bde, which was part of the 1st Division. Serving under Maj Gen Harold Alexander, he covered for him on a couple of occasions, four days, 31st May to 3rd June 1940, and then later, when Alexander took over command of I Corps during the evacuation of Dunkirk. Clearly he did quite well, being given command of the 18th Division, a TA unit, in July, which he trained before they departed to initially the Middle East, but diverted to the Far East. My sources are The Generals of WWII - Biography of Major-General Merton Beckwith Beckwith-Smith (1890 – 1942), Great Britain and Wikipedia - Merton Beckwith-Smith - Wikipedia The entry in Wikipedia is somewhat unhelpful, a man from the gentry, schooled at Eton, commanding the Guards Bde, who's advice to his men when dealing with Stukas, was "Stand up to them. "Shoot at them with a Bren gun from the shoulder. Take them like a high pheasant. Give them plenty of lead. £5 to any man who brings one down" does paint a certain picture, but I'm sure there was a lot more to the man than that!
There's a new biography of Beckwith-Smith - that would be the first place I'd look if I'd got round to buying it. I think it's The Forgotten Soldier
I don't wish to rain on the parade for the following reasons: 1. I've met Canon Snape in the past via my connections to the National Army Museum and found him a fascinating and kind gentleman, strong on faith and as an historian. 2. The subject popped up in my PhD research, and his role in 1940 - as a Brigadier - was fascinating. But. This book left me wanting, as it focussed more on him as a man of faith, rather than as a soldier. It's no bad thing, but I was left feeling a little....wanting. It is (very) far from a bad book but left me wanting just that bit more.
Hi Phil, no that is a very valid point, and no doubt helped in through the dark days of captivity. I've only read the book review, which tells me how great a trainer of men he was, but doesn't tell me how that conclusion is reached. They must have been considered capable, to be sent out to the Middle East, and Beckwith-Smith had been in command for about 15 months at that point, plenty of time to weed out unsuitable officers.
