London Scottish/6th Gordons connection. Lt Col JB Clapham and Col Peddie knew each other having fought together in Norway. Lt Col JB Clapham took over command of the 6th Gordons at Anzio landing with the London Scottish, replacing Col J Peddie Officer Commanding the 6th Gordons during the reduction of the salient and the tragic loss of three Companies. They had both previously served together in the London Scottish and in a Special Force unit in Norway where Major James Peddie was in command and Capt JB Clapham his 2i/c. Do their stories in this campaign appear anywhere or does anyone have any details of them prior to Anzio please.
commission for Lt-Col J B Clapham From ancestry family trees Born 1907 at Prestwich, Lancs son of George Herbert Clapham a diamond Merchant of Manchester, & Lizzie Lizzie Maud (nee Keevney) 1938 described as a motor engineer on his mothers probate died 1961 Middlesex From index on Brtiish Newspaper Archive Possible photo here with officers of the Gordons in 1942. July 1942 wedding report from Kent where Lt Col J B Clapham of London Scottish is best man. 1948 Col J B Clapham director of of Colliver Fisher Ltd presents darts trophies in Harrow. Results for 'j b clapham' | Between 1st Jan 1940 and 31st Dec 1949 | British Newspaper Archive In 1941 Colliver Fisher Ltd of Station Parade, Northwood, advertise for Munitions Workers. 1949 Colliver Fisher Ltd are Motor Engineers.
John Brian Clapham 2nd Lt. 19.05.1934 Service number 62892 Commissioned , 14th London Regiment - Territorial Army (LG: 14th Lond. R.—Lce-Serjt. John Brian Clapham (late Cadet, Sedbergh School. Contgt.Jun. Div., O.T.C.) to be 2nd Lt. 19th May 1934. Lt. 19.05.1937 (relinquished 29.06.1938) 29.06.1938 transferred to Territorial Army Reserve of Officers Re- Mobilised 29 August 1939 WS/Maj. 30.06.1942 T/Lt.Col. 30.06.1942-04.1944 August 1942 :- 1st Battalion The London Scottish Gordons. Lt. (War Subs. Maj.) J. B. CLAPHAM (62892) to be Maj., 1st Jan. 1949. Gordons. TERRITORIAL ARMY RESERVE OF OFFICERS. Maj. J. B. CLAPHAM (62892) having exceeded the age limit ceases to belong to T.A. Res. of Offrs., 9th Oct. 1957, and is granted the hon. rank of Lt.-Col. Kyle
Thats impressive and has established the correct person. I would now like to follow these two distinguished officers back to 1940 - 42 to Norway where they fought together. According (if my memory is correct) to Edward Graces book the original "The Perilous Road to Rome via Tunis" I am revisiting my notes as Clapham became head of Battle (or Commando) Training or similar whilst Peddie went to the Gordons at some stage. He then led the London Scottish into Anzio in time to relieve the 6th Gordons. He suffered Dysentery on the Monte Grande Sector in December 1944 but went with the Regt to Palestine with 1st Division. I have since found my cutting ref Peddie and Clapham from Edward Grace's Book "The Perilous Road to Rome via Tunis" see attached.
There are Two books The Perilous Road to Rome by Edward Grace the first publication was by Parapress Ltd called "The Perilous Road to Rome via Tunis" which I bought to replace "The Perilous Road to Rome and Beyond" by Pen & Sword, which I gave to a friend. The "Beyond" contains extra post war additions which I was not impressed with as it simply made the book thicker and was more about Roosevelt and Churchill if my memory is correct.. However it does contain the paragraph in the cutting above which is for me very informative regarding Lt Col Clapham. JB (Brian) Clapham comes across as a very cool and caring character and loyal friend of those that he served with which leaves me wanting to know more about his earlier war experiences. James Peddie seems to disappear after Anzio having "gone to another Regiment" albeit receiving a DSO and much praise from Edward Grace. An intriguing pair of warriors of which I am sure there is more worth knowing.
Seems to have stayed with the Gordons till retirement in 1957, rather than a full transfer to another regiment. Army List of 1945 From London Gazette TERRITORIAL ARMY RESERVE OF OFFICERS. Maj. (Hon. Lt.-Col.) J. PEDDIE, O.S.O., T.D. (47259), having exceeded the age limit ceases .to belong to -the T.A. Res. of Offrs., 2nd Nov. 1957, retaining the hon. rank of Lt.-Col. His Mid in the London Gazette gives home address as Little Tring, Herts.
Lt-Col James Preddie died in 1982. Buried in at Wilstone Cemetery, Herts. James Peddie (1907-1982) - Find A Grave Memorial If it helps locate him in WW2 I also found announcements for: 25th April 1940 at St Columba's Church, Pont Street, Chelsea, marriage to Daphne Oliver (daughter of Col. G.O. Oliver G.O.C. Troops, Free Town Sierra Leone. 5th April 1941 child born at City of London Maternity Hospital, Brocket Hall, Herts. 5th December 1942 daughter born at same location He lived at The Manor House, Little Tring from at least 1941 to 1965.
Interesting that they both exceeded the age limit for officers within weeks of each other. However I am not trying to trace their relatives but trying to find out their early war activities. My experience with families related to men who served is that they know very little of what they did, as veterans rarely spoke about it unless they were prompted by historians or wrote books. It would appear from the records to date that they were of a similar age and possibly trained together. Was it pure fate that the London Scottish turned up at Anzio. JB Clapham officially took over in June probably in Rome, as they celebrated the handover with their Pipe Band. They may both have lived in the London area both being London Scottish. JB Clapham lived in Northwood in1945. I am currently trawling through the Norwegian Campaign trying to identify where they might have seen action. I have the 6th Gordons in Swaffam Norfolk in February 1942 following their return from Dunkirk and re-organisation of 1st Infantry Division but no mention of names. Norway was in 1940 some time after the Dunkirk withdrawal covered by 1st Division, so they didnt hang around dwelling on it. Or were they both still with the London Scottish, not sure yet where they were in 1940 or the relationship between the London Scottish and the Gordons.
I did not include this in post 2, but J B Clapham lived in London at a couple of addresses from at least the early 1930's. His parents were with him at one one point early 1930's. I was sure this was the same family, as they had a servant with a very unusual name at the addresses & she was with John at Northwood after the war. For when the current situation ends I did note that the London Scottish Gazette 1905-1993 is at the IWM. THE LONDON SCOTTISH REGIMENTAL GAZETTE
Thanks for the information, you certainly have experience in tracing families. I spent much time in the first few years of retirement tracing my own and my wife's extended families, it is surprising what can be found. However I prefer not to get too personal as some people (including some of my relatives) dont like to be revealed on line, seeing it as an infringement of their privacy. The IWM publications are very interesting. It is a long way for me to go to IWM. The distance, expense and time taken is prohibitive. Often time will reveal what one is seeking. I have yet to go book hunting regarding the Norwegian Campaign. I am researching for interest and pleasure not to write a book. I have no deadlines I hope you dont take this wrong it is difficult to explain but I appreciate your interest and assistance.
If you were not aware, the London Scottish were ‘sponsored’ by the Gordon Highlanders until the Gordon Highlanders morphed into a battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The London Scottish were reservists so all their Regular training and administrative staff always came from the Gordon Highlanders. Regards Frank
Thanks for confirming that Frank, I recall sending a photo of Lt Col Clapham to the Gordons museum who I thought would be able to identify him. They replied that they had no record of him. I found out who he was when a second copy of the photo turned up in a family collection with a hand written caption on the back. Neither the Gordons or the London Scottish museums seem to mention the relationship. My next quandary is regarding the mentioned Norwegian adventure and whether they were individual volunteers which will be difficult to find, or with the Gordons and/ or London Scottish. Something to do in lockdown!
