62882 Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Peter Allix WILKINSON, KCMG, DSO, OBE, Royal Fusiliers & SOE

Personal Number: P/62882
Rank: Lieutenant-Colonel
Name: Sir Peter Allix WILKINSON, KCMG, DSO, OBE
Unit: Royal Fusiliers ; SOE ; No 1 Special Force CMF


London Gazette : 29 June 1934
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34065/supplement/4143/data.pdf
GENERAL LIST.
UNIVERSITY CANDIDATES.
The undermentioned to be 2nd Lts. 29th June 1934:—
Peter Allix WILKINSON.

London Gazette : 30 August 1935
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34194/supplement/5532/data.pdf
INFANTRY.
R. Fus.—
2nd Lt. Peter Allix WILKINSON, from Gen. List, T.A., 1st Feb. 1934, next below 2nd Lt. J. W. A. Maude.

London Gazette : 3 February 1942
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35442/supplement/546/data.pdf
INFANTRY
The undermentioned Lts to be Capts —
1st Feb 1942 —
R Fus
P A Wilkinson (62882)

London Gazette : 4 January 1944
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36312/supplement/64/data.pdf
The KING has been graciously pleased to give orders for the following promotions in, and appointments to the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire:—
To be Additional Officers of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order:—
Major Peter Allix Wilkinson, Civil Assistant, War Office.

London Gazette : 14 September 1944
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36699/supplement/4249/data.pdf
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in .the field: —
The Distinguished Service Order.
Major (temporary Lieutenant-Colonel) Peter Allix Wilkinson (62882), The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment).

 

Recommendation for Award for Wilkinson, P A Rank: Temporary Lieutenant Colonel ... | The National Archives
Reference: WO 373/96/102
Name Wilkinson, P A
Rank: Temporary Lieutenant Colonel
Service No: P/62882
Regiment: No 1 Special Force CMF
Theatre of Combat or Operation: The London Omnibus List for Gallant and Distinguished Services in the Field
Award: Distinguished Service Order
Date of announcement in London Gazette: 28 September 1944

 

Wilkinson, Peter Allix (Oral history)

• Object description
• British officer with 2nd Bn Royal Fusiliers in GB, 1935-1938;
• intelligence duties with War Office and Secret Intelligence Service in Czechoslovakia, 1938-1939;
• officer served with Military Intelligence Research in Poland and Romania, 1939;
• officer served with Auxiliary Units in GB, 1940;
• officer served with Special Operations Executive in GB, Middle East, Crete, Italy, Yugoslavia and Austria, 1940-1945
• Content description
• REEL 1 Background and education in GB, 1914-1938: father's military career; reading modern languages and military history at Oxford University and French Lycee; recruitment to 2nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers. Aspects of period with War Office and Secret Intelligence Service in Czechoslovakia, 1938-1939: appointment, duties as desk officer, French Section, War Office, MI3 A, 3/1938; posting as Czech language officer in Prague, Czechoslovakia, ca 8/1938; problems in getting to Prague; impressions of period in Prague and Slovakia, 8/1938-3/1939; evidence and news of German occupation, 3/1939; question of German suspicions of Secret Intelligence Service legation; activities, learning Czech; aspects of leaving Czechoslovakia including smuggling barrel of machine gun in suitcase. Aspects of period with War Office and Secret Intelligence Service in GB, 1939: language exams; selection lunch for Military Intelligence Research and MI1X recruits; opinion of training at Caxton Hall; question of knowledge of organisations; selection for Military Intelligence Research Military Mission to Poland; equipment. Aspects of journey to from GB to Poland 1939: start of journey, 31/8/1939; hearing news of German invasion of Poland in Athens en route to Poland.
• REEL 2 Continues: requisitioning aircraft to continue journey to Poland; contrast of scenery during journey by car and train across Poland; changing into uniform on hearing of Britain's declaration of war. Aspects of period with Military Intelligence Research in Poland and Romania, 1939: impressions of Warsaw, 3/9/1939; members of Mission including Colin Gubbins; problems in finding transportation; situation in western Poland; Tommy Davis' mission to report to War Office; appointment to oversee withdrawal of Mission's baggage train from Warsaw; view of refugees; attitude amongst Warsaw civilians; recollections of colleagues; accommodation in Lukov; appointment as personal staff officer to Gubbins; meeting with personnel of Polish General Staff at Brest- Litovsk; Britain's stance on occupation of Poland; detour to find driver's wife during air attack; reactions to bombing of Lukov; relocation of mission; communications with London; announcement by Polish General Staff of withdrawal to San River line.
• REEL 3 Continues: story of out- running Fieseler Storch in air attack on General Carton de Wiart's car; opinion of Carton; his relationship with Poles; mistaken requisition of cottage from Polish minister of Finance in Tarnopol; evidence of First World War Red Army occupation of accommodation in Tarnopol; discovering members of Polish General Staff in ruined castle; morale of General Stakevich; decision to withdraw Mission from Poland to Romania; aspects of withdrawal with Polish Army section, story illustrating Polish reactions towards Britain's stance; travelling with Carton; story illustrating Carton's opinion of Romanians; question of consciousness during retreat; execution of Romanian 'Iron Guard'; auction to avoid internment of Mission members; story of driver's encounter with prostitutes in Ukraine; return to GB via Alexandria and Gibraltar including submarine spotting in rough seas in Bay of Biscay.
• REEL 4 Continues: Aspects of period as Czech and Polish liaison officer, Military Intelligence Research in GB and France, 1939- 1940: gaining of position; colleagues; opinion of Colonel Holland; relationship between Military Intelligence Research and Section D; contrast in Czech and Polish arms reserves; Polish resistance in 1939; liaison duties with Czech and Polish intelligence in France; Gubbins's appointment overseeing independent companies in Finland and Norway; taking over Czech and Polish liaison in Paris; set-up in Paris; relations with French authorities including explosives training with Fifth Bureau; French reaction to time pencils; intelligence about German invasion of France; evacuation of Paris; suspicions of his civilian dress; attempts to raise support for Poles, role of Henry Hopkinson. Story of bringing Polish General Staff from France to London: flight with General Staff including General Shakorvsky from France; view of stricken oil tankers; mediating in altercation between pilot Captain Bennett and Shakorvsky; evacuating Poles; final leg in taxis.
• REEL 5 Continues: visiting military attaches in Yugoslavia, Hungary and Bulgaria with view to revising role of Section D, 2/1940; story of booking into hotel full of Germans in Belgrade, Yugoslavia; recommending role of Military Intelligence Research attachés; small scale smuggling of arms to couriers for Poland and Czechoslovakia; story of discovery of his false passport in Italy. Aspects of period with Colin Gubbins and formation of Auxiliary Units in GB, 1940: story of being recruited by Gubbins to form Auxiliary Units in southern England, 22/4/1940; other staff recruited; Peter Fleming's training of 12th Corps Observation Unit in hideouts in Kent; role of Auxiliary Units; daily routine of work with Auxiliary Units; relocation of War Office headquarters in Coleshill House, Highworth; assessment of potential of Auxiliary Units; co-ordination of units; question of knowledge of police, security organisations; plans in event of German invasion.
• REEL 6 Continues: relationship with Gubbins; stories illustrating Gubbins' liaison duties and difficulties with sections of irregular units; geographical location of units; printing instructions for demolition equipment; accommodation at Highworth House; stores gathered; pattern of training; end of fear of German invasion; posting with Colin Gubbins to Special Operations Executive. Aspects of period as officer with Special Operations Executive in GB, 1940-1941: details and first impressions of unit; location of offices; make-up and background of staff; work restoring links with Czechs and Poles; first drop of couriers into Poland; opinion of planes initially used for flights; allocation of Handley Page Halifaxes; problems faced by pilots delivering loads; and within Poland; communications with Czechoslovakia; involvement of Special Operations Executive with resistance groups; relationship with Polish and Czech resistance groups.
• REEL 7 Continues: supply of resistance by land; reason for visit to Middle East; voyage to Egypt including visit to Cape Verde Islands. Aspects of period as officer with Special Operations Executive in Middle East, 1941: details of Cairo Special Operations Executive offices; journey to and period in Ankara; British relationship with Greece, summer 1941; attempt to contact Black Michael; period in Crete including observation of German invasion and evacuation; impressions of Australian and New Zealand troops on Crete; arrival of German paratroopers; opinion of chances against invasion; return journey to GB; stay behind parties in Crete; story of burning German uniforms during Battle of Crete; Special Operations Executive accommodation on Crete; anti-aircraft fire against Junkers Ju-87 Stukas; production of Crete News; communications; knowledge of battle; details of evacuation. Aspects of period as officer with Special Operations Executive in GB and North Africa, 1941-1943: situation on return including changes made to organisation by Colin Gubbins; areas posted to; first approach from Colonel Morovitz concerning assassination of Reinhard Heydrich.
• REEL 8 Continues: role of section in assassination attempt including knowledge of target; memories of assassins including story of trip to theatre with them; involvement with plan and training; details of assassination; problem with dropping assassins; reactions to assassination of Reinhard Heydrich.
• REEL 9 Continues: changes to post and among staff at Baker Street; posting to planning section with Colin Gubbins; details of paper written on use of resistance forces after D-Day; putting recommendations of paper into operation including manoeuvres to test ideas; resulting relationship with senior officers; situation in Mediterranean; reasons for move to Tunis and involvement of Special Operations Executive in North Africa.
• REEL 10 Continues: reason for posting to North Africa; activities in Algiers and Tunis; reception on arrival in Cairo; areas selected for dropping agents to aid Yugoslavia; situation in North Africa; details of Operation Clowder including organisation of Military Mission to Tito; arrival at Massingham and its involvement in Italian armistice; arrival in Cairo; details of Fitzroy Maclean's leadership; granting of approval for Operation Clowder; activities of Colin Gubbins in Baker Street; duties given in Cairo; re- organisation of Cairo office; support from Colin Gubbins for Wilkinson's duties abroad; Douglas Dakota flight to Yugoslavia from Lecce. Aspects of operations as officer with Special Operations Executive in Yugoslavia, 1943-1944: arrival; journey to Jezi; equipment carried into Yugoslavia; meeting with Tito in cave headquarters.
• REEL 11 Continues: role of mission; journey to Otocac including story of thieves; contact with POWs escapees; details of journey to Slovenia; reporting to authorities; Christmas celebrations with partisans; accommodation in 9th Corps Headquarters; talks about communications; journey to Crmosnjice; fitness; clothing worn; staff at 9th Corps Headquarters; wait for courier; details of attempt to get across Austrian frontier; instructions to return to Italy; details of journey to Istria; aborted wait for aircraft; escape to Drvar; story of American pilot including partisan communications and journey to pick-up point.
• REEL 12 Continues: story of young partisans attacking a German patrol; help received from civilians during escape; problems with knee; arrival at Drvar; debriefing from Fitzroy Mclean; meal with Randolph Churchill; horse riding in area; rendezvous with Russian flown Douglas Dakota; discussion on success of Operation Clowder; physical state; debriefing by intelligence; period at Monopoli; flight to GB. Aspects of operations as officer with Special Operations Executive in GB, 1944: return to Baker Street; visits to Foreign Office; reasons for not meeting with Winston Churchill; report on findings from Operation Clowder; duties testing agents; success of reports; contact with other British units in Yugoslavia; further details of duties testing agents including background and opinion of agents; breakdown of relationship with partisans in Yugoslavia; background to return to Italy; changes to organisation of Special Operations Executive, late 1943. Aspects of period as officer with Special Operations Executive in Italy and Austria, 1944-1945: continuation of Operation Clowder in Italy; trial run of route from Italy to Austria.
• REEL 13 Continues: agents arriving in Italy; commandos attached to section; story of Alfgar Hesketh Prichard's mission to Austria; skiing in Apennines; results of visit to London; activities of Austrian agents dropped including details of their documentation; details of advance; plan for operation north of Venice; period as partisan advisor; story of Yugoslav tanks advancing into Austria, 7/5/1945, and reactions; army's entry into Austria including reason for staying behind; description of own advance into Austria including other British units met and reception from civilians and Germans troops; arrival at Klagenfurt town hall; offices found for Operation Clowder; arguments over post-occupation plans; role of Special Operations Executive in Austria; posting given in Rome.
• REEL 14 Continues: Reflections on work of Special Operations Executive: opinions and discussion of Special Operations Executive; summary of work in relation to war including memories of First World War; changes in Britain's fortune during 1941 and resulting change in importance of Special Operations Executive; opinion of misconceptions in Government about Special Operations Executive and European partisans; political nature of resistance including 10 Downing Street's reaction to report on Slovenian resistance and impact on British liaison officers; discussion of best British liaison officers; opinion of need for involvement of Foreign Office with Special Operations Executive; relationship between Special Operations Executive and other Government departments; work of Colin Gubbins including details of Section D and growth of Special Operations Executive; details of wireless communications.
• REEL 15 Continues: Activities and memories of Alfgar Hesketh Prichard: family background and education; pre-war civilian work; story of first meeting with Hesketh Prichard; refusal of entry into Royal Air Force; work training Scots Guards; appointment to Special Operations Executive; work undertaken by Hesketh Prichard in Czechoslovakia, 1939; appointment as head of Czech Section Special Operations Executive; story of Rebecca/Eureka system; details of S-Phone; opinion of Hesketh Prichard's leadership of Czech Section; involvement in assassination of Reinhard Heydrich; relationship between Morovetz and Hesketh Prichard; own posting to planning and away from Hesketh Prichard; promise to reunite himself with Hesketh Prichard; character of Hesketh Prichard; involvement of Hesketh Prichard with communications used on Operation Clowder.
• REEL 16 Continues: character of Hesketh Prichard; fitness and journey to Cairo; stories of Hesketh Prichard's activities in Cairo; posting of Hesketh Prichard to Italy; own arrival in Italy; activities during night before flight to Yugoslavia; flight from Lecce to Bosnia including clothing worn; reiteration of meeting with Tito; Hesketh Prichard's problem with lice; journey into Slovenia; reiteration of attempt to cross Austrian border; activities of Hesketh Prichard in Yugoslavia; Hesketh Prichard's journeys to into Austria; Hesketh Prichard's and British relationship with partisans; attempts of Hesketh Prichard to recruit Austrians; death of Alfgard Hesketh Prichard.
• REEL 17 Continues: Reflections on work of Special Operations Executive, 1940-1945: involvement of Secret Intelligence Service in Special Operations Executive including details of Polish and French maquis documentation; details of Special Operations Executive printing station; story of weekend with future parents-in-law; relationship with wife's family; memories of Joe Holland, Colin Gubbins and Military Intelligence Research.
• REEL 18 Continues: background to formation of Special Operations Executive; memories of Tommy Davis and Peter Fleming; memories of George Taylor and Bickham Sweet-Escott in Section D; memories of Section D Head Lawrence Grand including further memories of Joe Holland and work with Section D; opinions of Section D staff.
• REEL 19 Continues: memories and opinion of Hugh Dalton including relationship of Hugh Dalton with military and different views of Special Operations Executive, late 1940; memories of Frank Nelson and Charles Hambro; discussion on Winston Churchill's view of Special Operations Executive; view of Special Operations Executive among some European officials in London; memories and opinion of Lord Selborne including importance of his relationship with Winston Churchill.
• REEL 20 Continues: memories of a Polish agent; story of General Shakorvsky's lunch bills; memories of Dominique Venner and cost of Special Operations Executive; opinions and memories of General Shakorvsky and other Polish officers; relationship with Czech Intelligence Service members including Czech reputation for underground warfare.
• REEL 21 Continues: memories of Harold Perkins including his involvement in sending the first flight to Poland; memories of Ronald Thornley including his involvement with Operation Clowder; command of Operation Clowder; agents sent to Germany and Austria; further memories of Ronald Thornley including areas controlled by Baker Street after 1943 and theories of how war would end.

 

See also:

• Peter Wilkinson (diplomat) - Wikipedia
  
• CART Auxiliary Unit Research
• Pioneers of Irregular Warfare: secrets of the Military Intelligence Research department in the Second World War Appendix 1: Notes on Officers of MI(R)
  
• diary of mission to Poland | The National Archives
  
• Description: diary of mission to Poland
  Date: 1939
  Held by: Imperial War Museum (IWM) Department of Documents, not available at The National Archives
• Private Papers of Lieutenant Colonel Sir Peter Wilkinson KCMG DSO OBE
  
• Papers relating to his service with the British Army (1938 - 1940) and with the Special Operations Executive (SOE) (1941 - 1945) comprising two ms diaries (42pp and 41pp) covering his service as a language officer in Czechoslovakia (September 1938 - March 1939) and with No 4 Military Mission to Poland (August - September 1939 and May - June 1940); memoranda and reports relating to Polish and Czech resistance movements (1940 - 1943); memoranda and reports regarding Operation CLOWDER, an attempt to infiltrate southern Austria via Slovenia (1943 -1945); correspondence regarding many aspects of his SOE service including his involvement with MASSINGHAM, the SOE Mediterranean HQ (1944), Operation CLOWDER and the disappearance in 1944 of CLOWDER's most important agent Major Alfgar Hesketh Prichard (1943 - 1945) and the political situation in Austria (1945); post war correspondence relating to his SOE service (1945 - 1992); a transcript of an interview regarding his wartime service in Poland (1983); photographs of Wilkinson and others (1939 - 1966) and miscellaneous articles and monographs written by others (1940s - 1990s).
  
• Sir Peter Allix Wilkinson - National Portrait Gallery

 

I can't find this on the IWM site, though I have listened to two reels that they have at https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80008770. It is of more than passing interest to me as my father and he collected awards together post war, and my father seems to have had his suspicions about Colonel Morovec. 21 reels seems a huge undertaking!

 

That's a shame. It appears to be a problem at the IWM end.

 

Thanks. Working now, I see recored by Mark Seaman. Not sure if I have the strength to listen to it all for the odd nugget! Incidentally TNA says IWM have his:
Description: diary of mission to Poland
Date: 1939
but if I search for "diary of mission to Poland" I get zero, and without quotes 23708 records!

 

Probably the private papers, quoted after TNA link, also in the link below
Private Papers of Lieutenant Colonel Sir Peter Wilkinson KCMG DSO OBE
"No 4 Military Mission to Poland (August - September 1939 and May - June 1940); ....
a transcript of an interview regarding his wartime service in Poland (1983)"

 

Thanks. Actually I think what I need is 'memoranda and reports relating to Polish and Czech resistance movements (1940 - 1943)', but not sure if or when I can get to the IWM.
Best, Colin