"Major General Denis Beckett, who has died aged 99, was awarded a DSO at the Battle of Monte Cassino. On March 19 1944, Beckett was in command of “C” Company, 1/4 Battalion The Essex Regiment (1/4 ER). After three days of fighting at Cassino, his company was much reduced in strength by heavy casualties and was due to become the reserve company for an attack on the monastery. Shortly before the launch of the attack, the Germans put in a sudden, strong and determined counter-attack. Realising the vital importance of holding a feature which was the key to the whole operation, Beckett took charge of his own company and another one whose commander had become a casualty. He led this force in beating off the enemy although he was wounded twice in the fierce fighting. After that, he became the outstanding personality of the defence. Throughout the day, the enemy made repeated efforts to infiltrate. Beckett was wounded for a third time, yet he continued to lead and to organise the defences so effectively that every attack was driven off with heavy losses to the enemy. That evening, the Germans blew down a containing wall, trapping about 20 of Beckett’s men. Beckett led a rescue party under fire and only desisted from his attempts to dig them out when sniping and machine gun fire made this impossible. There were so many dead and wounded on both sides that Beckett and his German counterpart asked their superiors if a brief amnesty could be held so that all casualties could be recovered. Permission was given and the work was carried out. The citation for the award to him of an Immediate DSO paid tribute to his courage and magnificent leadership. He had, in fact, been recommended for a Victoria Cross. Denis Arthur Beckett was born at Wanstead, Essex, on May 19 1917 and was educated at Chard School, Somerset. He became a reporter on the Stratford Express and joined the Honourable Artillery Company in 1939. He was commissioned into 1/4 ER, and in the Second World War he served with the Battalion in West Africa, the Middle East, Italy and Greece. " http://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2016/08/28/major-general-denis-beckett--obituary/
I took a military party ot Cassino earlier this year. One of the officers brought the details of her boyfriend's great uncle killed at cassino. he was one of Beckett's platoon commanders killed on the castle wall. Here is Major Denis Beckett's account of the action written shortly it shortly afterwards:
