Vladimir Peniakoff
| Vladimir Peniakoff | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Nickname(s) | Popski |
| Born |
30 March 1897 Huy, Belgium |
| Died | 15 May 1951 (aged 54) Bloomsbury, London, England |
| Buried at | Wixoe, Suffolk, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |
French Army British Army |
| Years of service | 1917 - 1918 (France) 1940 - 1946 (UK) |
| Rank | Lieutenant-Colonel |
| Commands held | Popski's Private Army |
| Battles/wars |
First World War Second World War |
| Awards |
Distinguished Service Order Military Cross Croix de Guerre Africa Star |
| Other work | Author |
Lieutenant-Colonel Vladimir Peniakoff DSO MC (Russian: Владимир Пеняков Vladimir Penyakov, 30 March 1897 – 15 May 1951), nicknamed Popski, was the founder and commanding officer of Popski's Private Army.
Vladimir Peniakoff was born in Belgium to Russian intellectual parents. In 1915 he studied at St John's College, Cambridge and describes his early education in Popski's Private Army: "For years I never had less than three tutors who pumped knowledge into my precocious brain". Vladimir initially had conscientious objections to the Great War but by his fourth term at Cambridge he had changed his mind. Unlike many of his peers, he opted to join the French artillery as a private rather than go through the lengthy training that a commission in the British Army entailed. He was injured during his time in the French Army and was invalided out after the armistice.
In 1924 he emigrated to Egypt where he worked as an Engineer for a sugar manufacturer. During this time he learned to sail, fly and navigate vehicles through the desert, becoming a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. Vladimir Peniakoff was a polyglot who spoke English, Russian, Italian, German, French and Arabic well.
He was commissioned as a second lieutenant on the British Army General List on 4 October 1940, serving in the Libyan Arab Force.
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