Aubrey Beaty RIP

Kyt · Jan 9, 2009

Aubrey Beaty - Telegraph

Aubrey Beaty, who has died aged 92, won an MC in Holland in 1944 and was believed to be the first soldier serving with the British ground forces to cross the German frontier.

On the evening of September 19 Beaty, then a captain in command of a troop of "Q" Battery 21 Anti-Tank Regiment RA (21 ATR), was supporting the 1st (Motor) Grenadier Guards during the attack on the post office and bridge at Nijmegen on the Dutch-German border.

Near Wyler Meer, just to the south-east, he took the surrender of 35 Germans and handed them over to the Americans. The next day he engaged German snipers and at 2pm he crossed the German frontier.

On learning that enemy tanks and infantry were advancing on the town of Beek, he joined the Americans there. He went forward and, from a hull-down position, fired 40 rounds of high explosive and armour-piercing shells into farm buildings where the enemy were believed to be.

The town was being heavily shelled, and amidst the dust the German infantry could be seen running from tree to tree to take advantage of all the available cover. After darkness, the enemy continued to advance using illuminating flares. There was considerable fire, and when the American infantry pulled back to a crossroads Beaty ordered his troop to pull back too. He personally covered the withdrawal.

He was then wounded and one of his self-propelled guns was hit, in error, by a Piat fired by an Allied unit. He evacuated the crew, some of whom were wounded, under shellfire and later that night rejoined his battery. He was awarded an MC.

Aubrey Valentine Vernon Beaty, the son of an officer in the Indian Police, was born in Delhi on February 1 1916. He and his siblings recalled adventures on horseback and being pursued by a posse of servants when their exploits became too hazardous.

He was educated at Bedford School before starting work at Selfridges. In 1939 he enlisted in the Royal Artillery and saw action in France with the BEF before being evacuated from Dunkirk. Beaty was commissioned into the 21 ATR and served with them throughout the Second World War. He took part in the D-Day landings in June 1944, the liberation of Brussels and the advance through Holland and Germany.

His MC citation paid tribute to his gallantry and stated that it was believed that he was the first of the British ground forces to cross the frontier into Germany

He was demobilised after the war and, in 1947, joined Condé Nast Publications, working for various departments. When he became a director of Vogue Italia his emolument consisted of a slap-up Roman meal.

In retirement Beaty settled in London, and derived great enjoyment from gardening.

Aubrey Beaty died on December 6. He married in 1943, Sheila, Miller, who survives him with a son. Another son predeceased him.
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