Patrick Beesly
Encyclopedia
Patrick Beesly was a British author and intelligence officer during World War II.
Beesly was the son of Gerald Beesly and his wife Helen (née Chamberlain) who was a cousin of Neville Chamberlain. Beasley attended Oundle School
following which he read history at Trinity College, Cambridge
. Like his brother Richard Beesly
, who obtained an olympic gold medal in rowing, he had an interest in boats and became captain of the boat club. He received further education at Bonn, Vienna, and Brussels.
Just before World War II, he joined the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) in June 1939, became a Sub-Lieutenant (Special Branch), and was appointed to the Naval Intelligence Division
(NID 2), in the section concentrating on France, Spain, and the Benelux
countries. Subsequently he became assistant to
Lieutenant Commander (later Vice Admiral
) Sir Norman Denning
in the Operations Intelligence Centre (July 1940). His first assignment was with the activities of armed merchant raiders but from 1941 until the end of the war with Germany he worked on submarine tracking as Deputy to Commander Rodger Winn
. He was promoted to Lieutenant Commander
and acted as Intelligence Officer to the Commander in Chief, Germany, at Flesburg and Minden.
He left the military in December 1945, receiving the American Legion of Merit
(rank of Legionnaire) for his wartime services. He then made a career in private industry with Henry Hope & Sons Ltd
, becoming its Managing Director in 1967 before retiring in 1974. Since by that time bans on writing about the intelligence services had been relaxed, he began writing about Intelligence operations. His first book, Very Special Intelligence in 1977 was well received, and he proceeded to write others on related themes.
Beesly was the son of Gerald Beesly and his wife Helen (née Chamberlain) who was a cousin of Neville Chamberlain. Beasley attended Oundle School
Oundle School
Oundle School is a co-educational British public school located in the ancient market town of Oundle in Northamptonshire. The school has been maintained by the Worshipful Company of Grocers of the City of London since its foundation in 1556. Oundle has eight boys' houses, five girls' houses, a day...
following which he read history at Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
. Like his brother Richard Beesly
Richard Beesly
Richard Beesly was a British rower who won an Olympic gold medal at the 1928 Summer Olympics.Beesly was born at Bromsgrove, the son of Gerald Beesly and his wife Helen who was a cousin of Neville Chamberlain. He was educated at Oundle School and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he was a member...
, who obtained an olympic gold medal in rowing, he had an interest in boats and became captain of the boat club. He received further education at Bonn, Vienna, and Brussels.
Just before World War II, he joined the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) in June 1939, became a Sub-Lieutenant (Special Branch), and was appointed to the Naval Intelligence Division
Naval Intelligence Division
The Naval Intelligence Division was the intelligence arm of the British Admiralty before the establishment of a unified Defence Staff in 1965. It dealt with matters concerning British naval plans, with the collection of naval intelligence...
(NID 2), in the section concentrating on France, Spain, and the Benelux
Benelux
The Benelux is an economic union in Western Europe comprising three neighbouring countries, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. These countries are located in northwestern Europe between France and Germany...
countries. Subsequently he became assistant to
Lieutenant Commander (later Vice Admiral
Vice Admiral
Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
) Sir Norman Denning
Norman Denning
Vice Admiral Sir Norman Egbert Denning KBE CB was a British Royal Naval and Intelligence Officer at the Admirality and Defence Intelligence Staff who served as Director of Naval Planning from 1945–1956, Director of Naval Intelligence from 1960–1964 and Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff for...
in the Operations Intelligence Centre (July 1940). His first assignment was with the activities of armed merchant raiders but from 1941 until the end of the war with Germany he worked on submarine tracking as Deputy to Commander Rodger Winn
Rodger Winn
Sir Charles Rodger Noel Winn, CB, OBE, QC, was a British judge and Royal Navy intelligence officer who led the tracking of German U-boat operations during World War II.-Early life:...
. He was promoted to Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
and acted as Intelligence Officer to the Commander in Chief, Germany, at Flesburg and Minden.
He left the military in December 1945, receiving the American Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
(rank of Legionnaire) for his wartime services. He then made a career in private industry with Henry Hope & Sons Ltd
Henry Hope & Sons Ltd
Henry Hope & Sons Ltd were a major manufacturer of metal components, including steel and metal windows, roofing, gearing and decorative metal ironmongery based in Smethwick, Birmingham, UK...
, becoming its Managing Director in 1967 before retiring in 1974. Since by that time bans on writing about the intelligence services had been relaxed, he began writing about Intelligence operations. His first book, Very Special Intelligence in 1977 was well received, and he proceeded to write others on related themes.