Lt. Peter Stanley Winston 45 Commando - Normandy Evasion

Looking for some information on Lt Peter Stanley Winston who parachuted with the 6th Airborne Division on D-Day he managed to evade capture after being dropped East over the River Dives. He was very active worked along side the French Resistance in the Calvados region.

He was attached to 9th Parachute Battalion and took off from Broadwell airfield acting as Liasion officer he also had a Marine Donald with him, I have not been any information on him either. Both were from “E” Troop (Easy Parachute Troop).

The MI9/IS9 files do spit up a little bit of info MISC INT 635 Lt. Winston, P.S. which is in file WO 208/3345 Volume II but nothing seems to appear in the file.

He was KIA 28th January 1945 aged 20

http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2961754/WINSTON,%20PETER%20STANLEY

http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/Commando+War+Graves+Memorials+and+Plaques/graves/War+graves+Holland/nederweert/RM+Cdo+graves.jpg.html

Any information would be appreciated

brithm

 

If you can get hold of a copy of "Four Five" by David Young, there is an account of Winston's escape story in his own words on pages 60-67.

He was killed in the attack on Belle Isle near Linne in the Netherlands.

Best,

Shaun

 

Hi,
His story is also in “Commando Men” by Bryan Samain. About twelve pages in all.

A lot more detail in the book but a short summary is : Dropped near Trouville on the 6th, on the run and finally taken prisoner in Bordeaux on 4th August. Gestapo handed him over to the Luftwaffe. Faked illness and ended up in a hospital. Marquis picked him and some other prisoners up and he was flown back to England on 2nd September.

Regards

Danny

 

Thanks smdarby & DannyM,

I was not expecting such a quick reply, had no clue Winston was mentioned in these books. Will now go see if they are at the local library.

If he landed near Trouville he really was off course 16 miles from Drop Zone V near Varaville.

Many thanks guys

brithm

 

I think I may be able to provide a little more information; Peter Winston was my Uncle. As regards where he landed, he was off-course due to the drop aircraft making a navigation error. He and a Sergeant found themselves behind enemy lines and they started the escape route through France, thanks to extraordinary help from the Resistance. PGW

 

Enjoy your meeting PGW.
Halesworth veteran to meet nephew of war friend killed in action

 

Many thanks RCG; a meeting with one of the last surviving Royal Marines 45 Commando Officers who served with Peter, means a great deal to my brother and myself, a rare opportunity to learn more about his extraordinary courage.

 

Hi ail,
What information do you have about the mission for the DDay of Lieutenant Winston ?
Regards,
Xavier P

 

In remembrance of the Second World War and the 80 years of D-Day, I saw the Beccles and Bungay Journal article A Halesworth war veteran Bryan Samain awarded Légion d'Honneur France has been united with the nephew Peter Winston of his late best friend lieutenant Peter Winston, who died in action during the Second World War in January 1945 in the Netherlands. Halesworth veteran shares fond memories of war friend.

Just after Peter Winston died in action in January 1945 at Linne my Family De Zeeuw Haenen has taken care of Peter Winston’s first burial place and comrade in The Netherlands. My Family was very active in the resistance during the Second World War where my grandfather, who worked closely together with my father, is on the Resistance monument (Neder)Weert and was awarded The Netherlands Royal order in Gold of Orange Nassau. My father worked during the Second World War, in addition to his professional work, in secret defence communication and war taps at Royal KPN/PTT ( Netherlands British Telcom). After the Liberation my father continued working on information to the British Army and in his professional life jointly at Royal KPN/PTT and AIVD/MIVD (Netherlands MI5/MI6). The Resistance Weert during the Second World War with surrounding villages helped 2000 people also with Military hiding and evacuations, sabotage, civil hidings, medical supplies and the preparation of collaboration lists. After Liberation the Resistance Weert were working with the British Army and Allied Forces and reinstalling authority and the prosecution of collaborators as was documented and reported to Queen Juliana in 1950.

Beccles and Bungay Journal helped Bryan Samain and Peter Winston’s nephew to get in contact where I also would like to get in contact with Bryan Samain, who gave at 99 of age an interview with itvX last month February and May 2024, to let Bryan Samain before his 100th birthday know that the first burial place of his best friend Peter Winston was well taken care for (photo) and also in contact for the relatives of Peter Winston in honoring the efforts and the losses in the Liberation of the Netherlands. D-Day 80 The Last Veterans: Bryan Samain | ITV News

Kind Regards,

Rob de Zeeuw MBA MBI
The Netherlands
E-mail rpdezeeuw@hetnet.nl
Mobile number 0031-653748679

 

Rob, I have just sadly heard that Bryan Samain died on the night of 24/25 June 2024.

Dear Pete,

Please give my condolences to his sons and the relatives of Bryan Samain.
Bryan is now with Peter Winston and all the Great Men that lost there lives in the Liberation and also in The Netherland Resistance actions.

After Peter Winston died in action at Linne the belle Island he was at Maasbracht and later buried at Nederweert as Peter Winston first burial place were my Family has taken care for (see message above and photos). After 1950 the graves became the Official Nederweert War Cemetery.

Kind Regards,

Rob de Zeeuw MBA MBI
The Netherlands
E-mail rpdezeeuw@hetnet.nl
Mobile number 0031-653748679