Robert Peatling - Without tradition - 2 para - 1941-1945.

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WITHOUT
TRADITION

2 PARA 194145

B orn in London in 1924 Robert Peatling followed family tradition by becoming an apprentice compositor. On the outbreak of war he joined the Air Training Corps and became an ARP messenger going on to enlist in the Army in 1942 and becoming a Sherman tank wireless operator. A year later he volunteered for parachute training and joined 2 Para and fought with them at Arnhem. Evading capture, he fell in with the Arnhem resistance group and was with them for seven months until liberated by the Canadians. He was recommended for a Mention in Despatches. On return to England he was an instructor at the Parachute Regiment Depot until demobilisation.

Returning to the printing trade he joined the Daily Mirror in 1951 and stayed until his retirement in 1984. At the same time he became a SSAFA caseworker and devoted much time to the Scout Association, rising to be a Commissioner.

Now retired and living in Dorset, Robert was until recently Secretary of the Wessex Branch of the Parachute Regiment Association and now serves on the Committee.

WITHOUT
TRADITION

2 PARA 194145

Robert Peatling

Pen & Sword

MILITARY

First published in 1994 and reprinted in 2004 by

PEN & SWORD MILITARY

an imprint of

Pen & Sword Books Limited

47 Church Street

Barnsley

S. Yorkshire

S70 2AS

Copyright Robert Peatling, 1994, 2004

ISBN 1 84415 111 5

The right of Robert Peatling to be
identified as Author of this Work has
been asserted by him in accordance with
the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

A CIP record for this book
is available from the British Library.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical
including photocopying, recording or by any information storage
and retrieval system, without permission from the Publisher in writing.

Printed and bound in Great Britain by

CPI UK

For a complete list of Pen & Sword titles please contact:

PEN & SWORD BOOKS LIMITED

47 Church Street, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S70 2AS, England.

E-mail: enquiries@pen-and-sword.co.uk

Website: www.pen-and-sword.co.uk

Contents

CHAPTER

APPENDIX

To every man who served in the
Second Battalion The Parachute Regiment
and took part in the parachute operations described
but especially to our Commanding Officer
John Frost, CB, DSO and Bar, MC
who led all four drops into enemy territory

ON RETURN from the prison camp in 1945, Captain Duncan McLean, our Adjutant spent a few happy months at the War Office compiling a short history of the Second Battalion The Parachute Regiment. It was a 44 page Octavo booklet that sold for two shillings.

Forty-five years later in 1990, General Frost suggested to me that he would like to see the history revised with much more detail. Being the Editor of our Parachute 2 Club newsletter I had already spent much time at the Public Record Office collating Honours and Awards to the Battalion and reading the War Diary for items to report.

The Roll of Honour had been produced by me some years earlier, so I gladly undertook the work.

The title of the book is taken from the fact that all men left their parent Regiment, many steeped in 300 years of tradition to volunteer for an unknown parachute unit Without Tradition.

General Frost had wanted to write a Foreword but unfortunately when the time came he regrettably was unable to manage that task. Nevertheless he was, until the end of his life, interested in all that was happening and gave his approval to the outline of chapters.

The history of the Second Battalion closely follows the wartime history of Major General John Frost and I am so sorry he is unable to enjoy the finished work. I have greatly enjoyed its production.

Robert Peatling February 1994

36 Park Lane Wimborne Minster Dorset BH21 1LD

THIS IS YOUR LIFE 1977 John Frost is watched by Jean, son Hugo and two sisters. 2 Para men were invited to contribute to the programme. Photo: Thames TV

THIS IS the story of 2 Para, from 1941 until 1945 and of some recollections which Bob Peatling has compiled through individual personal accounts from all the different operations.

My husband had the great honour of commanding the Battalion at Bruneval, North Africa, Sicily, Italy, Arnhem and post war in Palestine and he felt very strongly that the history had not been fully recorded in North Africa where they suffered enormous casualties. Bob Peatling has put this right, but very regrettably too late for Johnnie to read and appreciate.

I felt very honoured to be asked to write the Foreword, which as the author says, is very much a tribute to the Colonel.

Johnnie was immensely proud of everyone in the Battalion and to the end of his life 2 Para was very close to his heart.

Jean Frost
Northend Farm
1994

MY THANKS are due to all members of the Parachute 2 Club for permission to use their personal stories in this history of Number 2 Parachute Battalion, as it was originally designated. In many cases their stories add a light touch to the serious business of war.

I wish to acknowledge the kindness shown by the following individuals. Dr Glyn Bayliss of the Imperial War Museum gave permission to quote from that fine authoritative work Airborne Forces by Lt Col TBH Otway, DSO. I have reproduced a map from the book and give acknowledgement to the Crown copyright, Imperial War Museum for the photographs used. Chris v Roekel willingly helped.

Major A Digby Tatham Warter, DSO, gave approval for his unique Arnhem battle report to be used together with the story of his achievement of bringing 138 men back through enemy lines one month later.

I have been unable to contact Group Captain Maurice Newham, OBE DFC to get his permission to use the story of the first Battalion jumps at Ringway, I hope he approves.

George Millar immediately gave approval to my request to use an extract from his book The Bruneval Raid. He had been captured in North Africa, escaped to England and returned to France by parachute as a secret agent. Dave Brooks gave me tremendous encouragement to finish the book. Fred Radley ex 3 Battalion sent me much information on the African campaign. John A Heys Arnhem Roll of Honour was of inestimable value as were David Buxton, Major John Dickson and The Commonwealth War Graves Commission in the compilation of the Roll of Honour.

Roger King helped with his research at the Public Record Office on the Pigeon Post and John Wallace. Mrs Diana Andrews at the Airborne Museum and Mrs Pat Blake at The Parachute Regimental Association gave me every encouragement. Mrs Patricia Reid gave me the loan of her late husbands collection of papers on Bruneval to sort through.

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