Hi On Milford War Memorial, Surrey WW2 section is listed ‘P. Morton, Pioneer Corps‘. I can find no Morton on the CWGC as having served in the Pioneer Corps. Interestingly though there is a Private Peter John Morton 13053592 Died 10/03/1945, Groesbeek Memorial, Netherlands but whose real name was Peter John Meyer, Intelligence Corps. Awarded King’s Commendation for Brave Conduct. Son of the late Richard and Elli Meyer of Berlin, Germany, Ok... so I would guess a soldier who served in the Intelligence Corps, who served under a false name and whose parents were from Berlin makes Morton/Meyer SOE or some similar unit? Secondly, I have read on Wikipedia that the Pioneer Corps was one of the few Regiments that enlisted foreign nationals and some of these went on to join such units as SOE (I’m assuming due to language skills) What I’m trying to establish is if the ‘P. Morton, Pioneer Corps’ in Witley War Memorial is in fact a decorated SOE operative. If anyone can assist I would be most grateful to hear from
In 1940 all enemy aliens (Germans and then Italians) in the UK were arrested and interned, including all the political and religious refugees from Nazi Germany. Eventually the British recognised that many of the interned men were willing to serve, and were allowed to join the Pioneer corps. This is from the Pioneer corps website Boris Kasperovitch served as Boris King as was killed behind German lines as a Corporal in 2 SAS Casualty Richard Lehniger served as Richard Leonard as died on Omaha Beach as a member of the Small Scale Raiding Force. Czech Communist jew - WW1 veteran who fought for Austro-Hungaria. Casualty I thought this chap might have been a spy, but he was shot while trying to escape as a PW. He was born in Lodz Casualty Meyer is listed on the Groesbeek Memorial and identified as serving in the Intelligence Corps. I think that means he would have been serving with a unit in the field. SOE war dead with no known grave tend to be on the Brookwood memorial. It is where Violet Szabo is listed. Check with the Int Corps Museum. They might know what he was up to.
There is full list of those SOE personnel who were killed/murdered on duty at the Valencay SOE Memorial (located south west of Romorantin) on the D 956 at a roundabout at the north side of the town.It was dedicated in May 1991 and from recollection the list comprises of 104 personnel,13 being female operatives who fell SOE and Valençay Monument .... very informative. As regards CWGC remembrance,a number of SOE personnel are remembered on the Groesbeek Memorial in the Netherlands..... such as Francis Sutthill ,Frank Pickersgill and Gustave Bieler. There may be others who can be ascertained by searching through through CWGC records.I do not understand why the two memorials have been utilised for remembrance of fallen SOE operatives but Pickersgill and Bieler were Canadian and the Groesbeek Memorial is situated within the Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery As has been said any non British national serving in the forces would be allowed for personal security, to have an assumed name in the event of capture. CWGC casualty information usually signifies this as "served as" giving the assumed name.
Regarding Gary's query about 'P Morton, Pioneer Corps' on Milford War Memorial, Surrey WW2 section. The background to the entry is as follows: Sergeant Peter John Morton was born Hans Peter Meyer in Berlin on 23 Oct 1920; his family was Jewish and his parents sought to get him to safety in the UK in the face of Nazi oppression. He arrived in the UK on 26 August 1939, giving his occupation as 'Sports Teacher' and was looked after by a Jewish charity. Although subject to a Tribunal, like virtually all ‘aliens’, he was not interned, possibly because he intended (but failed) to get an onward passage to the USA. He was found work on a dairy farm in Milford, Surrey, and lived, variously at three local addresses in Milford, hence, obviously, why he appears, apparently, on the Milford War Memorial. On 14 November 1941 he enlisted in the Pioneer Corps at Guildford as 13807008 Private Meyer. On 15 March 1944 he transferred to the Intelligence Corps and changed his name, becoming: 13053592 Pte Peter John Morton; at some stage later he was promoted to 'local Sergeant'. There are no details but it is believed that he undertook an operation in Germany or Austria and died during it or during imprisonment after capture. On 26 March 1945, a letter was sent from the Intelligence Corps Records Office to his Next of Kin (an English cousin) informing him Peter was reported "killed in action on 10 March 1945" in "Western Europe". The 'Private Peter John Morton' commemorated at Groesbeek is one and the same man, although the CWGC record is slightly wrong as it records his real name as "Peter John Meyer" whereas it should be recorded as "Hans Peter Meyer". Also he was a 'local Sgt' not 'Private'. He, and three other of the four Int Corps NCOs commemorated on Panel 10 on the Groesbeek Memorial were awarded posthumous King’s Commendations for Brave Conduct on 18 April 1946. These were 'gazetted' in the Supplement to the London Gazette of the same date. It is believed the citations for all four were recommended by 'C'. They were not serving with SOE. Four of the five are believed to have undertaken missions in Germany or Austria. The fifth was captured in Slovakia and was executed at Mauthausen Concentration Camp (in Austria) following torture. The fates of the other four is unclear but they all perished. Just to confirm another comment on this thread, non-British members of HM Forces were allowed to change their names if they volunteered for service overseas; this was to protect their original identification and nationality, and also prevent any relatives being identified, in case of capture. The Int Corps is, of course, enormously proud of all five who were German and Austrian refugees to the UK who volunteered for 'special duties' and made the ultimate sacrifice. All five are also commemorated on the Intelligence Corps’ Memorial Wall at Chicksands. Finally, could you please confirm if ‘P. Morton, Pioneer Corps‘ is on the Milford War Memorial, Surrey WW2 section, or the Witley War Memorial? I would like to contact the appropriate authorities regarding the detail inscribed. Many thanks.
thank you for the update I have sent a private message to Gary and hopefully he will be along shortly
Hi Firstly thanks for the comprehend reply Sounds like a brave man to go into enemy territory like he and his team did knowing full well the consequence of being caught I can confirm ( as I have just gone back to it) that P Morton, Pioneer Corps is on the war memorial at St John the Evangelist Milford Parish Church, Milford, Surrey I have attached a photo but the but the memorial itself needs the names to be re-engraved
Hi I am trying to learn more about Peter John Morton. He was best friends with my Grandfather who came to the uk a year or so before Morton and, I think, helped him come over. Is there any way of knowing what sort of misson he was on when he died? I have a very poigniant letter written by Peter to my Grandfather when he was on leave in Paris dated 2nd February 1945 and I would love to find out what happened at the end.
Hi Robin, Very interesting to find someone who knew Peter Morton and who helped him come over to the UK. From researching the other INT CORPS NCOs who are commemorated with him on the Groesbeek Memorial I have an idea of the type of mission he may have been on when he died. However, I would not want to share this more widely - hey - until I can gather more facts. However, I am happy to chat off-line about it. Is there a way we can message directly? I expect the letter he wrote to your Grandfather would have been when he was in final preparation for his mission.
Yes - me too; I wonder how we exchange details without disclosing them more widely? Can any forum member advise how two of us can exchange contact details privately? Thanks
Gary S and others may already be aware, but the nearby Guildford Museum is running: Secret Guildford: Locations and secret agents of the Special Operations Executive in World War Two Dates: 11 November 2023 to 13 April 2024 Times: available during opening hours Free entry https://www.guildford.gov.uk/whatsonatguildfordmuseum
