Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Corporal

Unit:

Military Intelligence Section 9 (MI9), Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI), Imperial General Staff, War Office, British Government

Awarded on:

September 24th, 1942

Citation:
"L/Cpl. Peacock was captured at SPHAKIA on 1.6.41. He was taken to GALATOS Camp from which he made two escapes through the wire. The first time he was rounded up with about 40 others in CAHEA(?): the second time he was unfortunate enough to be found by Austrian soldiers when asleep in a slit trench.

In August he was hipped with many others to SALONIKA.

On 13.8.41 he volunteered for a working party and was marched down with twenty others to railway sidings by the docks. While they were waiting to be told what to do he seized his chance and made a dash for a warehouse. He went out the other end, crawled under the railway, got on a tram and went to the other end of SALONIKA. His escape was not noticed until later.

He found a family to look after him for a few days. But as he had a wound in the leg and some trouble with a shoulder a visitor to the family took him away insisting that hee was able to look after him properly.

After two months he was forced to leave when a German officer billeted in the house weher he was living. - He was given money and made his way to AGHION OROS where he wandered form monastery to monastert.

In April, 1942, he joined Cpl JOHN DAVIES COUTTS No. 4746052, 52nd M.E. Commando and WALTER BARRINGTON THOMAS, No. 9234, 23rd Rifle Bn, N.E.Z.F., who have been recommended for a M.M. and M.C. respectively. They got a boat at KLEPHTIKON on 5th April and sailed for IMBROS. Bad weather forced them to go back.

On 16th April they tried again from MEA SNETE(?), but had to return as round the point a strong light was flashed on them and they heard voices.

They were joined by two Cypriots and a Greek officer on 2.5.42, and the same day Pte THEODOROS GEORGIOU, No. 4230, 232 Coy. R.A.S.C. (who has been recommended for a D.C.M.) reached them. - On 4.5.42 they left with him and arrived TURKEY on 5.5.42.

L/Cpl. Peacock not only escaped trice, and alaone, in spite of being wounded, but withstood all the hardships of the winter till he could find a menas of leaving GREECE. In spite of his weak state he made continued efforts to do this and was a great help to Lt. THOMAS during the time they were together. A fine Example of courage and tenacity of purpose in the face of great hardship."

LG 35715/4158