TracesOfWar needs your help! Every euro, pound or dollar you contribute greatly supports the continuation of this website. Go to stiwot.nl and donate!

Portal, Charles Frederick Algernon "Peter"

Date of birth:
May 21st, 1893 (Hungerford/Berkshire, United Kingdom)
Date of death:
April 22nd, 1971 (West Ashling/West Sussex, United Kingdom)
Buried on:
St Mary's Church Churchyard
Nationality:
British (1801-present, Kingdom)

Biography

Military career:
26 September 1914: Temporary 2nd Lieutenant
11 December 1915: Temporary Lieutenant (MCS)
16 Julyl 1916: Temporary Captain
14 June 1917: Temporary Major
1 April 1918: Captain
17 June 1918: Lieutenant Colonel
1 May 1919: Acting Lieutenant Coonel
1 August 1919: Squadron Leader
1 July 1925: Wing Commander
1 jJuly 1931: Grou Captain
1 January 1935: Air Commodore
1 July 1937: Air vice Marshal
3 September 1939: Acting Air Marshal
1 July 1940: Temporary Air Marshal
25 October 1940: Temporary Air Chief Marshal
14 April 1942: Air Chief Marshal
1 June 1944: Marshal of Royal Air Force

Do you have more information about this person? Inform us!

Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Temporary Second-Lieutenant
Unit:
HQ Signal Company, I Corps, British Army
Awarded on:
December 9th, 1914

Motor Cyclist Officer
Mentioned in Dispatches
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Temporary Captain
Unit:
No. 3 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps
Awarded on:
January 10th, 1917
"For conspicuous gallantry in action. He has done excellent artillery work in the air, often in bad weather and at low altitudes; he has always set his flight the best of examples. On one occasion he shot down a hostile machine."
Military Cross (MC)
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Temporary Captain
Unit:
No. 16 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps
Awarded on:
July 18th, 1917
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. For many months he has done magnificent work in co-operation with the artillery. During an attack he succeeded in silencing nine active hostile batteries, ranging our artillery. His splendid example has been of the greatest value."
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Temporary Major
Unit:
No. 16 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps
Awarded on:
December 11th, 1917
Mentioned in Dispatches
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Temporary Major
Unit:
No. 16 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps
Awarded on:
July 18th, 1918
"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During a period of four months, chiefly under adverse weather conditions, he repeatedly carried out successful raids by day and night, his ingenuity and daring enabling him to drop many tons of bombs on important enemy posts. One night he crossed the lines five times, only landing between each flight to replenish with bombs.
Another day her took on single-handed five enemy machines, and drove own three of them—a most gallant and splendid feat. On another day, despite thick mist, he registered one of our batteries on an enemy battery, causing the destruction of one pit and obtaining one fire and two explosions; and another day, flying for 5J hours, he carried out two very successful counter-battery shoots, observing 350 rounds. He has always set a most magnificent example to the squadron under his command."

Second DSO received as bar
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel
Unit:
No. 24 (Training) Wing, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:
December 31st, 1918
Mentioned in Dispatches
Rank:
Air Vice-Marshal
Unit:
Director of Organisation, HQ, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:
January 2nd, 1939

New Year Honours
Companion of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (CB)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Temporary Air Marshal
Unit:
HQ, RAF Bomber Command, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:
July 11th, 1940

HM Birthday Honours
Commander of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (KCB/DCB)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Air Chief Marshal
Unit:
Air Staff, HQ, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:
July 15th, 1941
Order Odrodzenia Polski Wielki
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Air Chief Marshal
Unit:
Air Staff, HQ, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:
June 11th, 1942

HM Birthday Honours (Chief of the Air Staff)
Grand Cross of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (GCB)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Air Chief Marshal
Unit:
Air Staff, HQ, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:
December 18th, 1942

Chief of the Air Staff
Sanct Olavs Orden Grand Cross
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Air Chief Marshal
Unit:
Air Staff, HQ, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:
January 12th, 1943

Chief of the Air Staff
Rad Bileho lva I Class
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Marshal of The RAF
Unit:
Air Staff, HQ, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:
January 1st, 1946
Order of Merit
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Marshal of The RAF
Unit:
Air Staff, HQ, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:
March 15th, 1946
"In recognition of valuable services rendered in connection with the war."
Distinguished Service Medal - Army (DSM)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Marshal of The RAF
Unit:
Air Staff, HQ, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:
September 6th, 1946
"In recognition of valuable services rendered in connection with the war."

With swords
Basilikon Tagma toy Georgioya A - Grand Cross
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Marshal of The RAF
Unit:
Air Staff, HQ, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:
November 18th, 1947
"In recognition of valuable services rendered in connection with the war."
Ridder Grootkruis in de Orde van Oranje Nassau (ON.1)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Marshal of The RAF
Unit:
Air Staff, HQ, Royal Air Force
"In recognition of valuable services rendered in connection with the war."
Orde van de Nederlandse Leeuw - Ridder Grootkruis (NL.1)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Marshal of The RAF
Unit:
Air Staff, HQ, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:
August 27th, 1948
"In recognition of valuable services rendered in connection with the war."

With palm
Grootkruis in de Kroonorde
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Marshal of The RAF
Unit:
Air Staff, HQ, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:
August 27th, 1948
"In recognition of valuable services rendered in connection with the war."

With palm
Croix de Guerre 1940
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Marshal of The RAF
Unit:
Air Staff, HQ, Royal Air Force
Grand Croix de l' Ordre National de la Legion d'Honneur
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Marshal of The RAF
Unit:
Air Staff, HQ, Royal Air Force
Ceskoslovenský válecný kríž 1939
Period:
After War Period (1945-now)
Rank:
Marshal of The RAF
Awarded on:
1953
Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation Medal 1953

Sources

Photo

The War Illustrated

Themes