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Peters, Frederick Thornton

Date of birth:
September 17th, 1889 (Charlottetown/Prince Edward Island, Canada)
Date of death:
November 13th, 1942 (Plymouth/Devon, Great Britain)
Buried on:
Portsmouth Naval Memorial
Row: 3. Grave: 61.
Nationality:
Canadian (1931-present, Constitutional Monarchy)

Biography

Frederick Thornton Peters received both the Distinguished Service Order (March 3rd, 1915) and his first Distinguished Service Cross (March 8th, 1918) for action during World War One.

Captain Peters died during an air accident on November 13, 1942. Name on Portsmouth Naval Memorial.

Promotions:
?: Acting Sub-Lieutenant;
March 31st, 1910: Sub-Lieutenant;
January 30th, 1911: Lieutanant;

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Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Lieutenant
Awarded on:
March 3rd, 1915
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Lieutenant
Awarded on:
March 8th, 1918
Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Commander
Unit:
H.M.S. Thirlmere (FY206), Royal Navy
Awarded on:
July 11th, 1940
Received for good services in the Royal Navy since the outbreak of
War.

Second DSC received in the form of a bar to be worn on the ribbon of the first DSC.
Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Captain
Awarded on:
January 19th, 1943
Awarded for:
Operation Torch
Citation:
"The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Captain Frederick Thornton Peters, Royal British Navy, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while in command of the ship carrying Landing Forces of the United States Army into the harbor of Oran, Morocco, in the early morning of 8 November 1942. Captain Peters distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism against an armed enemy during the attack on that post. He remained on the bridge in command of his ship in spite of the fact that the protective armor thereon had been blown away by enemy shell fire and was thereby exposed personally to the withering cross fire from shore defenses. He accomplished the berthing of his ship, then went to the forward deck and assisted by one officer secured the forward mooring lines. He then with utter disregard of his own personal safety went to the quarter-deck and assisted in securing the aft mooring lines so that the troops on board could disembark. At that time the engine room was in flames and very shortly thereafter exploded and the ship turned on its side and sank."

Permission granted to wear the decoration per The London Gazette, dated January 19th, 1943.
Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Acting Captain
Unit:
H.M.S. Walney (Y04), Royal Navy
Awarded on:
May 18th, 1943
Awarded for:
Operation Torch
Victoria Cross (VC)
Citation:
"For valour in taking H.M.S. Walney, in an enterprise of desperate hazard, into the harbour of Oran on the 8th November, 1942. Captain Peters led his force through the boom towards the jetty in the face of point-blank fire from shore batteries, a Destroyer and a Cruiser. Blinded in one eye, he alone of the seventeen Officers and Men on the bridge survived. The Walney reached the jetty disabled and ablaze, and went down with her colours flying."

Sources

  • Photo 1: Onbekend
  • Photo: Unknown
  • - The London Gazette of 5th April 1910, Issue 28354
    - The London Gazette of 15th August 1911, Issue 28522
    - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 2nd March 1915, Issue 29088
    - Seventh Supplement to The London Gazette of 5th March 1918, Issue 30564
    - Supplement to The London Gazette of 9th July 1940, Issue 34893, dated 11th July 1940
    - Fourth Supplement to The London Gazette of 15th January 1943, Issue 35870, dated 19th January 1943
    - Third Supplement to The London Gazette of 14th May 1943, Issue 35019, dated 18th May 1943
    - https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29088/supplement/2213
    - https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30564/supplement/2978
    - Victoria Cross Reference
    - The Register of the Victoria Cross - uitgegeven door This Engeland 1997 - ISBN 0906324270
    - CWGC