Peter King (British soldier)
| Peter King | |
|---|---|
| Born |
30 October 1916 Caxton, Cambridgeshire |
| Died | 12 December 1962 (aged 46) Lake Wahapo, nr Whataroa, New Zealand |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom New Zealand
|
| Service/branch |
 British Army New Zealand Army
|
| Years of service | 1937 to 1946 (British Army) 1950 to 1952 & 1954 to 1960 (New Zealand Army) |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit |
No. 4 Commando Royal New Zealand Artillery Royal Army Dental Corps |
| Battles/wars |
Second World War - Normandy - Walcheren Korean War Kashmir (United Nations Observer Group) |
| Awards |
Military Cross (1944) Distinguished Service Order (1951) |
| Other work | Chief Park Ranger, Westland National Park (1960-death) |
Peter Frank King (b. Caxton, Cambridgeshire, 30 October 1916, d. Lake Wahapo, near Whataroa, New Zealand, 12 December 1962) was a British Commando in World War II, who was commissioned in the field and awarded the Military Cross. He also served in Korea with the New Zealand Army, being awarded the Distinguished Service Order in 1951. King died in a car accident in 1962.
Peter King was born in Caxton, Cambridgeshire; his parents were William Edgar King, a master builder, and his wife, Hilda May Pleasants. He was educated at Truro School.
King joined the Dental Corps in March 1939 and served as a non-technician, excelling as a weapons instructor. He spent two years in this role, rapidly becoming a drill sergeant at the Dental Corps' depot, but then applied to transfer to a fighting unit. This was refused. King was so frustrated that he and another soldier, Pte Leslie Cuthbertson, then 20 and from Newcastle-upon-Tyne took matters in their own hands; they planned and executed an unofficial and unauthorised raid on occupied France.
In April 1942, the two men stole weapons and grenades and also a motor-boat from the south west of England. They landed in France, where they attempted to cut a railway line using a hand grenade, among other activities. After three days, King and Cuthbertson stole a French motor boat to return to England. This failed and they were adrift in the Channel for twelve days until picked up by an Air Sea Rescue Service launch. They were initially treated as spies.
Both men were court-martialled in July 1942. King lost his sergeant's rank but he was posted to the Commando training base at Achnacarry, as a private on detachment from the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. After training, he was allocated to No. 4 Commando, on the request of its commander, 15th Lord Lovat who had heard of his French adventures. King was a highly successful recruit to the Commandos, becoming Troop Sergeant Major of C Troop before the D Day landings.
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