John Becke

For other people with similar names, see John Beck (disambiguation).

Brigadier-General John Harold Whitworth Becke CMG DSO AFC (17 September 1879 – 7 February 1949) was an infantry officer in the Second Boer War and commander in the Royal Flying Corps during World War I. He transferred to the RAF on its creation on 1 April 1918 as a temporary Brigadier-General. He retired from the RAF in 1920.

He was born in Liverpool on 17 September 1879 and as a Captain in the Sherwood Foresters seconded to the Royal Flying Corps he was awarded his Royal Aero Club aviators certificate on 18 June 1912 flying a Bristol Biplane at Brooklands.

Honours and awards

• Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George - 3 Jun 1918
• Distinguished Service Order - 1 Jan 1917
• Air Force Cross - 3 Jun 1919
• Mentioned in Despatches - 17 Feb 1915, 20 May 1918
• Officers of the Légion d'honneur - 24 Feb 1916
• Croix de Guerre (France) - 18 Apr 1918

References

• Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - Brigadier-General J H W Becke
• No. II(AC) Squadron - Major J H W Becke

Military offices
New title Squadron established	Commanding Officer No. 6 Squadron RFC 1914 – 1915	Succeeded by G S Shephard
Preceded by Sir Tom Ince Webb-Bowen	Commanding Officer No. 2 Squadron RFC 1915	Succeeded by C F de S Murphy
Preceded by E B Ashmore	Brigadier-General Commanding 4th Brigade RFC 1917	Brigade disbanded
Preceded by Sir Tom Ince Webb-Bowen	Brigadier-General Commanding 2nd Brigade RFC 1917	Succeeded by Sir Tom Ince Webb-Bowen