Allan Beckett
Allan Harry Beckett MBE (b. 4 March 1914, East Ham, London Borough of Newham, United Kingdom, d. 19 June 2005, Farnborough, London) was an English civil engineer whose design for the 'Whale' floating roadway was crucial to the success of the Mulberry harbour that was used in the Normandy Landings. Starting the war as a sapper digging trenches on the South Coast at the time of the Dunkirk evacuation, Allan Beckett came to play a significant role in the success of the Mulberry harbour used during and after the Normandy landings of June 1944.
Allan Harry Beckett | |
|---|---|
| Born | 4 March 1914 East Ham, London |
| Died | 19 June 2005 (aged 91) Farnborough, Kent |
| Buried | Oare churchyard, Faversham, Kent 51°20′02.47″N 00°52′54.26″E |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ | Royal Engineers |
| Years of service | 6 |
| Rank | Major |
| Awards | MBE |
| Other work | Sir Bruce White, Wolfe Barry & Partners. Beckett Rankine |
His contribution to the Mulberry was to design the floating roadways which connected the pierhead to the shore, and a system of anchors. The roadway had to be strong enough to withstand constant wave action which, as occurred in the appalling weather of June 1944, was much more severe than anticipated. Beckett's design, which had been tested in the severe conditions of Scotland in winter, survived the storm which struck on 19 June 1944, and raged for three days.