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

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!

Mentioned in Dispatches

Period:: First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:: Temporary Second-Lieutenant
Unit:: Motor Cyclist Section R.E., CHQ Troops Royal Engineers, Headquarters, British Expeditionary Force (BEF), British Army
Awarded on:: October 19th, 1914

Mentioned in Dispatches

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

Military Cross (MC)

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."

Distinguished Service Order (DSO)

Period:: First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:: Temporary Captain
Unit:: No. 16 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps
Awarded on:: July 18th, 1917

"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."

Mentioned in Dispatches

Period:: First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:: Temporary Major
Unit:: No. 16 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps
Awarded on:: December 11th, 1917

Distinguished Service Order (DSO)

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