# Otto Becher

By [Theresa Onions](https://paragraph.com/@04btc) · 2022-07-03

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[Rear Admiral](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rear_admiral_\(Australia\)) **Otto Humphrey Becher**, [CBE](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commander_of_the_Order_of_the_British_Empire), [DSO](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Companion_of_the_Distinguished_Service_Order), [DSC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distinguished_Service_Cross_\(United_Kingdom\)) & [Bar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medal_bar) (13 September 1908 – 15 June 1977) was a senior officer in the [Royal Australian Navy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Australian_Navy) (RAN). Born in [Harvey, Western Australia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvey,_Western_Australia), Becher entered the [Royal Australian Naval College](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Australian_Naval_College) in 1922. After graduating in 1926, he was posted to a series of staff and training positions prior to specialising in [gunnery](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun).

A [lieutenant commander](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lieutenant_commander) at the outbreak of the [Second World War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_World_War), Becher assisted in the extraction of Allied troops from the [Namsos](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namsos_Campaign) region of Norway while aboard the [heavy cruiser](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavy_cruiser) [HMS _Devonshire_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Devonshire_\(39\)), and was decorated with the [Distinguished Service Cross](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distinguished_Service_Cross_\(United_Kingdom\)). Following service in the [Mediterranean theatre](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediterranean,_Middle_East_and_African_theatres_of_World_War_II), he returned to Australia in 1942 as officer-in-charge of the gunnery school at [HMAS _Cerberus_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Cerberus_\(naval_base\)). He spent two years at _Cerberus_ before being given command of the [Q class destroyer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Q_and_R_class_destroyer) [HMAS _Quickmatch_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Quickmatch_\(G92\)) in March 1944. While commanding _Quickmatch_ in operations against Japanese forces in the [Pacific](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_War), Becher earned a [Bar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medal_bar) to his Distinguished Service Cross.

At the war's end Becher was posted to the Navy Office and later to the aircraft carrier [HMAS _Sydney_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Sydney_\(R17\)); in 1951 he was given command of the destroyer [HMAS _Warramunga_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Warramunga_\(I44\)). _Warramunga_ formed part of Australia's contribution to the [United Nations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations) forces engaged in the [Korean War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_War); Becher was promoted to [captain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_\(naval\)) and awarded the [Distinguished Service Order](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distinguished_Service_Order) while carrying out operations in Korean waters. On returning to Australia, he filled several staff positions and commanded the aircraft carriers [HMAS _Melbourne_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Melbourne_\(R21\)) and [HMS _Vengeance_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Vengeance_\(R71\)). Promoted to rear admiral in 1959, he served as [Flag Officer Commanding](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_officer) [Australian Fleet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commander_Australian_Fleet) from 1964 to 1965, before taking up the post of Flag Officer-in-Charge East Australia Area. Becher retired from the RAN in 1966, and died in 1977 at the age of 68.

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*Originally published on [Theresa Onions](https://paragraph.com/@04btc/otto-becher)*