User:Harry.beckhough

Early life

Harry Beckhough born Bristol, England 15 February 1914. Educated Bristol Easton Board school, Fairfield grammar school and bristol university. Honours Degree German, French and philology. Studied France and Germany.1933 at Freiburg University Black Forest, witnessed Hitler's advent to power, book burning etc.

Education

Returned home to receive degrees from Winston Churchill, Chancellor, who counselled patient research and preparation for coming war with Germany, being prepared by Hitler and his Nazis to conquer Europe. Trained in grammar school Cadet Corps and University Officers Training Corps in preparation. After PhD trained as University lecturer. Offered services to War Office 1937/8/9. Refused as "not yet required". Finally enlisted in ranks to be private in R.Engineers MT Div, based at Ripponden Yorkshire. Promoted L/Corp. drill NCO. C.O discovered my training history, sent me to Catterick for training as Artillery officer.

Army career

Commissioned 1940 at Larkhill, Regiment posted overseas,arriving Durban after losing many ships in convoy to German U-boats. Serving with Artillery Regt. Quetta under secret orders to join Bletchley Park training as Code-breaker, because of my expertise in German. Flown to Cairo to join 8th Army to decipher Gen. Rommel's secret cipher messages to his Generals (and to Hitler pleading for more tanks and fuel)Gen. Montgomery informed of Rommel's plans and battle strength until el Alamein great victory. Then recalled to India to serve with WWIC near Delhi. Finally sent to join 14th(Burma) Army under Gen. Bill Slim to break Japanese codes and ciphers. Promoted OC Int.SC. HQ Calcutta, with 'recording units' in jungle collecting Jap Morse Code messages to translate for Gen Slim., indicating positions, strengths and intentions.

Foreign Office Service

Finally returned home end 1945 after victory, to be ordered under Foreign Office, as Senior Officer, with remit to resuscitate German war damaged Universities of Rhineland, Cologne and Bonn. Major change from junior lecturer 1935/6 to Head of two Universities, albeit German, under my sole command. Empty, useless, no doors or windows, no gas, electricity or water (over 20,000 breaks in each, rendering University useless. From begin 1946 to end 1950 worked solidly at restoration, denazification, promoting studies on democratic lines. We disposed of universal Blackmarket by restoring the Deutsch Mark with real value. Returned home end 1950 to find England in parlous state, mountains of debts and no jobs even for Lt.Col. RA/Int.

Marriage and entry into industry as co-founder of Double Two Shirt Company

Now married with baby boy, became co-founder of shirt manufacturer we called Double-Two, with spare collar. 1958 founded my own Company, making high quality mens clothing.

Founded Cundall Manor School

1959 founded Cundall Manor Prep school, near York, as no suitable schools available then for my two children. Highly successful, now celebrating 50 years growth from 6 to 350 pupils. My Company developed well with very hard work until my retirement 1983.

Retirement

Joan, my wife died 1996 in Harrogate(our home for nearly 50 years, so I returned to my West Country, to settle in Marlborough, lovely ancient Wiltshire city. Now fully occupied as author, lecturer, member of Intelligence Corps,active politician and voluntary worker for charity.

Author

For confirmation and detailed account see my autobiography "Thinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy", published by DSM.