CSM 2657545 Peter Wright VC, 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards

My late father, John Young, submitted the attached photograph for publication in the Coldstream Guards Association 1997 edition “Coldstream Gazette”.

The 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards saw active service in Palestine from 12th October 1938 until mid April 1939 having been despatched there by boat, as a matter of urgency, from Alexandria, Egypt.

Having taken part in the occupation of the old City of Jerusalem in October 1938 (several fatalities suffered) the 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards carried out various sweeps of the hostile countryside and Arab villages in what is now called "The West Bank ".

The attached photograph was taken on their return from one such Battalion sweep in early December 1938.

Pictured outside the school in Ramleha (sic - possibly Ramleh or Ramellah?) where Number 2 Company were billeted,

In the rear - wearing service dress cap as “Corporal of the Guard.” –

L/Cpl 2657545 Peter Wright, (Later C.S.M. Wright VC)

His 1944 DCM citation is recorded on this site – I understand that on investiture King George VI commented that his actions deserved the Victoria Cross so his DCM award was reviewed, rescinded and subsequently replaced with the award of the Victoria Cross.

Below personnel were the returning half section 6 Platoon, No 2 Company - Captain H. M. Sainthill's Company. As a Major he was awarded the DSO for leading the escape of 400+ personnel from the Tobruk perimeter at the time of the June 1942 surrender - details on this site.

From left to right -

L/Cpl 2657732 John Shepherd, (shown as B Shepherd on Medal Roll)

Gdsn 2657752 Jock Parkin, (Shown as J. L. Parkin on Medal Roll)

Gdsn 3597824 John Young, (holding covered Lewis Gun)

Gdsn 2657723 Arthur Willis, (he was in my fathers squad at The Guards Depot Jan-June 1937).

Gdsn 4613653 John Hutchinson

My father recounted that –

“This sweep lasted 48 hours and was carried out through the Biblical territory known as The Wilderness, entering that area east of Bethlehem and emerging near to The Inn of The Good Samaritan.

We were supplied with rations and the blankets we are wearing before nightfall on the first day by means of an airdrop from R.A.F. Lysanders which also acted as our reconnaissance. I believe the then Major Orde Wingate, later of Chindit fame in Burma, was involved in this then innovative method of supporting troops in the field.

Our instructions on receiving the blankets was that anyone failing to hand them in on the conclusion of the sweep would have the cost deducted from his pay!”

Service numbers obtained from Ancestry UK Coldstream Guards Palestine Medal Roll May 1940.

I believe the photograph was taken by Gdsn 2657133 Robert Batty. The Palestine Medal roll show he transferred to the Corps of Military Police 3rd January 1940. He is shown on this site as having been awarded the Military Medal as L/Cpl Batty, Coldstream Guards, in 1943 and the British Empire Medal in 1946 as a Colour Sergeant Coldstream Guards, Headquarters 3 Corps Defence Company in Italy.

He was obviously a keen photographer as I have about 50 snaps he took in Egypt and Palestine 1938/39 (my father ordered copies of his originals). My father wrote some descriptive notes with names of the soldiers shown so this winter’s task is to get their service numbers from the Palestine Medal rolls!



Steve Y

 

Diane,

Thanks for the information regarding Coldstream Guards Palestine Honours and Awards. Unfortunately my local library does not appear to allow access to Times online archives so I have been unable to carry out any further online research.

I am able to add the following information -

Lieutenant R. G. V. (Victor) Fitzgeorge - Balfour (later Major General C.B., C.B.E., DSO, MC) was Platoon Commander of 7 Platoon, Number 2 Company, 3rd Coldstream Guards on their arrival in Palestine at the port of Haifa on Sunday 16th October 1938.

His orderly (batman) Gdsn 2656805 Feast was wounded by a “bomb” (IED?) during the occupation of the Old City of Jerusalem on Wednesday 19th October 1938.

Lieutenant Fitzgeorge - Balfour won his Military Cross in November 1938 when his reconnaissance patrol was ambushed by about 200 armed rebels on the Al Khadr- Husan track near Bethlehem.

L/Sgt 2656791 Douglas Langton, HQ Company, was killed and six others wounded. Many Arabs were left dead and wounded before the patrol withdrew.

Above information obtained from an article in 1997 Coldstream Gazette entitled “The Occupation of The Old City of Jerusalem” by 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards written by R J S Tyacke RVM (1940 Palestine GSM roll shows Cpl 2655818, Signals Platoon, October 1938).

I have a Coldstream Guards pass allowing my late father to “walk out in plain clothes” from Mustapha Barracks, Alexandria. The pass is signed by Lt. Fitzgeorge Balfour as A/Adjutant. It is about the size of the old English “county” issue red driving licence which preceded the national DVLA type driving licence.

Steve Y.

 

Hi , Im the granson of C.S.M. Peter Wright , many thanks for sharing that photo as it is one I havnt seen before.

 

Hi Andrew,

No problem. My father was taken POW at Antelat, Libya 23/12/1941 so was not with the Battalion when your grandfather won his award.


Regards,

Steve Y.