Peter HUNTINGDON-WHITELEY 30 ASSAULT UNIT

Discussions on all aspects of the The United Kingdom & its Empire and Commonwealth during the Inter-War era and Second World War. Hosted by Andy H
Post Reply
keith A
Member
Posts: 857
Joined: 19 Jan 2012, 17:51

Peter HUNTINGDON-WHITELEY 30 ASSAULT UNIT

#1

Post by keith A » 08 Sep 2014, 15:45

This officer was a Royal Marine serving at RM Chatham before he joined "A" Commando in 1942. Can anyone tell me when he was commissioned? He is in the LG as a promoted Lieutenant in December 1940, aged 20 and then as Captain in 1942. Ordinarily I would assume it was in 1939 but it could have been later. I assume he was in 1 RM Brigade because he was a possibly a serving officer on the outbreak of war but again it's a guess.

Also where did he serve before joining "A" Commando (later 40 Commando)? I assume that like 41 Commando it was formed from members of an RM Battalion, and that HW was with that formation but cannot find any evidence of this.


regards

Keith

User avatar
Steen Ammentorp
Member
Posts: 3269
Joined: 13 Mar 2002, 13:48
Location: Denmark
Contact:

Re: Peter HUNTINGDON-WHITELEY 30 ASSAULT UNIT

#2

Post by Steen Ammentorp » 09 Sep 2014, 18:20

Hi Keith,

The name is garbled. Correct name Herbet Olliver Huntington-Whiteley, but apparently referred to as "Peter". Born 27th Feb. 1920, commissioned RM as 2-Lieutenant 1st Sep. 1938, Lieutenant 14th Apr. 1940 and Captan 15th Oct. 1942. Killed in Action at Le Havre, France, 12th Sep. 1944.

PS. Strangely enough he is still in the Half-Yearly Army List, January 1946!!!
Kind Regards
Steen Ammentorp
The Generals of World War Two


keith A
Member
Posts: 857
Joined: 19 Jan 2012, 17:51

Re: Peter HUNTINGDON-WHITELEY 30 ASSAULT UNIT

#3

Post by keith A » 10 Sep 2014, 17:23

Thanks Steen. so he was a regular from 1938! Apparently he was also called "Red" by his men due to the colour of his hair. I know he saw a lot of service after Dieppe in 1942, joining 30 Commando on its formation that year. He was killed while trying to arrange the surrender of some German troops.

best regards

Keith

Dbruce1986
New member
Posts: 1
Joined: 22 Sep 2017, 11:23
Location: Plymouth

Re: Peter HUNTINGDON-WHITELEY 30 ASSAULT UNIT

#4

Post by Dbruce1986 » 22 Sep 2017, 11:28

Hi i'm based at 30 commando, i found a picture in the HQ building of this man i took a photograph, it won't let me upload saying the file is too large

keith A
Member
Posts: 857
Joined: 19 Jan 2012, 17:51

Re: Peter HUNTINGDON-WHITELEY 30 ASSAULT UNIT

#5

Post by keith A » 10 Feb 2018, 19:00

There are a few on the Commando Association Website. I have found a lot more about this chap. Apparently he toured Germany as part of a Gentlemans Cricket Team in 1937!

His early career is at RM Chatham and Portsmouth but what he was doing there is unclear.

Post Reply

Return to “The United Kingdom & its Empire and Commonwealth 1919-45”