G.G. Peel, RA 60th Field Regiment - Resigned in protest at conversion for Chindit Ops?

Discussion in 'Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy' started by PackRat, Apr 2, 2019.

  1. PackRat

    PackRat Well-Known Member

    Can anyone dig up any information at all on Lieutenant Colonel G.G. Peel, Royal Artillery?

    He took command of 130 (Assault) Field Regiment on 10 November 1943, having previously been O.C. 60 (North Midland) Field Regiment. Here's the mention in 130 Field's war diary:

    Poona, 10th November 1943
    Lieut. Col. J.S.WILKINS, M.C., R.A. left for Delhi on ceasing to command the Regiment. His new appointment was Sub Area Commander.
    Lieut. Col. G.G. PEEL, R.A. assumed command of the Regiment.
    ...

    At the end of the month the Regiment was stationed at Pashan Camp, Poona, less 494 Lt Bty who were away on Exercise Viking III. The Regiment was under command of Lieut. Col. G.G.PEEL, R.A., who was formerly O.C. 60th Field Regiment, R.A. This last unit has recently been transformed into a “Long Range Penetration Group.

    Looking up 60th Field I found a Wikipedia entry:

    70th Division remained at Ranchi during the first part of 1943. It was then decided to break it up to provide Long Range Penetration (LRP or 'Chindit') columns for Maj-Gen Orde Wingate's second jungle penetration mission (Operation Thursday).70th Division began reorganising on 6 September 1943. The Chindits had no role for conventional artillery, so 60th Fd Rgt joined 23rd Brigade on 22 October 1943 to train as infantry under the designation of 60th Regiment, RA, (North Midland). Each infantry battalion reorganised as two LRP Columns; 60th Rgt provided Columns 60 and 88. 23 Brigade moved to India's Central Provinces for intensive training in jungle fighting.

    The CO of 60th Fd Rgt is reported to have resigned in protest at the conversion to infantry, and was replaced by Lt-Col H.G. de J. ('Mike') du Vallon, a specialist in LRP tactics, who trained the regiment and commanded one of the columns in person.

    It isn't clear from the article where this assertion that he 'resigned in protest' comes from. I don't have the 60 Field Regiment diary, although I imagine it would be unlikely to elaborate on why he left the regiment.

    130 Field was at that point with 36 Division, training in Combined Ops for a potential amphibious landing in the Arakan (abandoned so they could help relieve the Admin Box in Feb 44), so it seems Peel was allowed to immediately take on another operational command following his protest.

    Would very much appreciate any background info on the man and events, and any ideas or theories on his resignation and reappointment.
     
  2. harkness

    harkness Well-Known Member

    Casualties, Western Desert:

    Peel_01.jpg

    Peel_02.jpg

    First name(s) G G
    Last name Peel
    Service number 30620
    Rank T/Lieutenant Col
    Service Royal Artillery
    Gazette date 05 Apr 1945
    Award Mentioned in Dispatches
    Recommended by Burma 4 Despatch
    Theatre Burma
     
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  3. harkness

    harkness Well-Known Member

    War Office, 20th April, 1944.
    The KING has been graciously pleased to confer "The Efficiency Decoration" upon the following officers of the Territorial Army: —
    ROYAL ARTILLERY.
    Maj. (T/Lt.-Col.) G. G. Peel (30620).

    TERRITORIAL ARMY RESERVE OF OFFICERS.
    The undermentioned Majs. (Hon. Lt.-Cols.)
    having exceeded the age limit cease to belong to
    the T.A. Res. of Offrs., 28th July 1956, retaining the hon. rank of Lt.-Col.:—
    G. G. PEEL, T.D. (30620).
     
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  4. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Annoyingly, I only have the 1944 War diary for 60 FR.
     
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  5. harkness

    harkness Well-Known Member

    This is the only "G G Peel" born 1900-1920 in England/Wales:

    Birth/baptism:

    Name: George Geoffrey Peel
    Birth Date: 5 Apr 1906
    Baptism Date: 27 May 1906
    Baptism Place: St. Martin, Lincoln
    Father: Walter Peel
    Mother: Grace

    Marriage:

    Name: Geoffrey G Peel
    Registration Quarter: Jul-Aug-Sep
    Registration district: Lincoln
    Inferred County: Lincolnshire
    Spouse: Janet M Stokes

    Death:

    Name: Geoffrey George Peel
    Death Age: 83
    Birth Date: 5 Apr 1906
    Death Date: 12 Mar 1990
    Registration Date: Mar 1990
    Registration district: Lincoln

    Name: Geoffrey George Peel
    Register Type: Cremation
    Death Date: 12 Mar 1990
    Burial or Cremation Date: 19 Mar 1990
    Burial or Cremation Place: Lincolnshire, England
     
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  6. PackRat

    PackRat Well-Known Member

    Great finds, thanks harkness

    Thanks for looking bamboo, it's another of those where it would be handy to take a peek at just one month's entries.

    I'm particularly interested in this gent as my grandfather was in 130 Field RHQ when Peel took over, and from his anecdotes I think he may have driven Peel's jeep when they were in Northern Burma.
     
  7. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Low and behold, I did have the 1943 diary after all. Not much as you can imagine about Peel's dissatisfaction with the decision to change to LRP. Entries below give best detail of machinations, with Peel going off the map in late September:

    P4790472 copy.JPG P4790473 copy.JPG P4790489 copy.JPG P4790490 copy.JPG P4790493 copy.JPG
     
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  8. PackRat

    PackRat Well-Known Member

    Great stuff, thank you!

    Looks like he was still there on 19th September, as the 237 Battery diary records that 'Lt Col Peel announces that the Regiment is to form its own columns' rather than be broken up to provide support platoons. Then on 19th October the new O.C. arrives, so he must have been gone on or before that point.

    The claim that he resigned 'in protest' is possibly based only on this article:

    "The training of a competent gunner is a long and arduous one, requiring, perhaps, more brain than brawn. Now it was decreed by Wingate that the regiment should lose its guns and become infantry. That Wingate was himself a gunner did nothing to mitigate what seemed to many nothing less than desecration. A few rebelled to the extent of leaving the regiment, including the Commanding Officer. Most though submitted to the will of a man who was now a national hero with powerful international supporters."​
     
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  9. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Glad to dig something up for you; showed me that I don't even know what I've got on my computer!!

    Here is one of the more readable Officer's Returns Sheets:


    P4790423 copy.JPG
     
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  10. PackRat

    PackRat Well-Known Member

    Thanks again bamboo. I do wonder if he 'jumped' or if he was 'pushed' to some degree. Lt-Col du Vallon, who took over, seems to have been a specialist in LRP tactics so much better suited to train and lead the 60th on upcoming ops. Peel went on to head 130 Field through two successful major operations with 36 Division, though (in the Arakan and Northern Burma).
     
  11. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Yes, very much so. In fact his potential Chindit service was continued in late 1944, when he took over command of the 2nd Queens, taking with him many officers formerly with 60 FR RA. Some Chindit battalions were earmarked for what would have been Chindit 3 and a move into Malaya. The Atom bombs took care of these plans.

    P7950284 copy.JPG
     
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