Peniakoff, Vladimir "Popski"

Date of birth:: March 30th, 1897 (Huy, Belgium)
Date of death:: May 15th, 1951
Service number:: 159661
Nationality:: Belgian

Biography

Vladimir Peniakoff was born in Belgium to Russian Jewish parents. WW1 interrupted his studies at Brussel's Université Libre and subsequently his father brought him to England where he studied briefly St John's College, Cambridge before joining to assist his father who set up a new business in the South of France. Opinions vary on what he was doing except that it was working in or for the French Army.
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.
At the beginning of WW2, still being in Egypt, he joined the British Army as an officer in the Libyan Arab Force (LAF) initially detailed with desk work. To escape from that he came up with a proposal to form a small detachement from the LAF undertake a mission behind Axis lines to contact friendly Arabs, perform sabotage and gather intelligence which was approved. This was done in close coperation with the Long Range Desert Group.
After a few missions his unit was disbanded but Colonel John Hackett gave him permission to establish No. 1 Demilition Squadron, later baptised into Popski's Private Army. The name Popski derived form the fact that Peniakoff's surname was too difficult to pronounce for the tase of his superiors.
He continued to serve in Egypt and Libya throughout the Desert Campaign and subsequently to Italy where he landed at Taranto in September 1943. Following that his unit was detailed with securing the surrender of Italians in Brindisi and Francavilla, inspect landing grounds in the area with a view to use by the RAF, and to determine the strength, location, and intentions of German units in the area, being often well in advance of the main force.
The unit became that successful that they were authorized to expand to about a hundred men of which he would form four patrols.
During an action on December 9, 1944 he was severely wounded and was evacuated to Rome and then on to the UK.
He returned to the PPA in April, just before the end of the War, the unit being detailed with disarming roaming partisans. Popski's Private Army was disbanded in September 1945.
He then moved to London, became a British Citizen in December 1946, married (second time) and settled down to write his memoires ("Popski's Private Army") which became a bestseller.
Vladimir "Popski" Peniakoff died of a brain tumour in the National Hospital in London on 15 May 1951.

Promotions:
4 October, 1940: 2nd Lieutenant
? Lieutenant
? Major
? Lieutenant-Colonel

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

Military Cross (MC)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Temporary Major
Unit:: Libyan Arab Force
Awarded on:: November 26th, 1942

Citation:
"Major PENIAKOFF has made three journeys to the JEBEL, being transported on each occasion by the LRDG. On the first trip, between 22/4/42 and 18/5/42, he visited SLONTA, GIOVANNI BERTA and CHAULAN, and established contacts with the local inhabitants to collect information of possible objectives for sabotage. He also carried out a road watch on the MARTUBA road, and reported daily by W/T on enemy traffic.
He again went to the JEBEL on 28/5/42 and remained there until 20/8/42. During this very long stay behind the enemy lines, and in constant danger of being given away by ARABS, he destroyed 50,000 gallons of petrol at GIOVANNI BERTA on 17/8/42, visited DERNA, watched and reported on DERNA L.G. and organised the escape of 5 British P.O.W. from DERNA cage. He also organised an elaborate and successful system of road watching by LIBYAN ARABS and carried out political work among the local inhabitants.
He took part in the LRDG raid on BARCE L.G. on 13/9/42, and was wounded in the subsequent withdrawal.
During all these operations Major PENIAKOFF has shown great courage, and has successfully overcome almost insurmountable difficulties.

WO 373/46/37

Distinguished Service Order (DSO)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Temporary Major
Unit:: 1 Demolition Squadron, PPA
Awarded on:: April 26th, 1945

Citation:
"Ref Map ITALY. 1 : 50,000 89/II
The area between Route 16 and Adriatic, from the SAVIO to the UNITI canal presented a problem to Porterforce. The area was intersected by canals, in some places densely wooded, and for the rest a flooded marsh. Major Peniakoff during the first fortnight in November with three patrols has liquidated all enemy opposition in this area. Every operation was planned by him, and in the majority of cases he actually led the patrols which have resulted in 31 PW and many enemy cas, and a retreat by the enemy from the SAVIO to the UNITI.
His own personal courage and drive have been the dominant factors in a notable achievement. When the floods made operations seemingly impossible Major Peniakoff personally led a Duck assault patrol, and supervised the building of a most unorthodox bridge over the GHIAIA canal in face of enemy Spandau fire. This bridge enabled a joint 27 L and PPA raid to surprise and capture 14 enemy in the village of GHIAIA.
This officer's consummate coolness and gallantry has not only made it possible to clean up a wide area of country which should easily have been held by the enemy, but his own personality has so impressed itself upon the Partisans in the coastal sector that their activities under his guidance have proved quite exceptional."

WO 373/11/10