NAM.1986-01-71-1

Military Medal and bar. Awarded to Cpl Frederick Peachey (1917-1975), South Lancashire Regiment, No 2 Commando, 1943-1945. Born in Warrington, Lancashire, Peachey was one of the earliest members of No 2 Commando. He fought at Vaagso and was seriously wounded at St Nazaire before serving on Sicily. He was wounded again during the Salerno landings, during which his actions won him his first Military Medal - this was gazetted on 13 January 1944. He next fought in Yugoslavia and Albania. He won a bar to his Military Medal at the Battle of the Argenta Gap, part of Operation Grapeshot (gazetted on 23 August 1945), where he was wounded again. At the end of the war he returned to his pre-war job as a lorry driver. Citation For Military Medal Gulf of Salerno 17 September 1943 At Piegolette on the 17 September 1943 this NCO performed his duties fearlessly and with extreme keenness. On more than one occasion in darkness and in daylight he went out with another man to locate enemy M.G.s (machine guns) which were firing at his section position, as a result of which effective fire was brought to bear on the enemy. Throughout the operation from the initial landing he was always in the forefront of the section’s activities and served as a very fine example to all the troop. He was wounded at a later stage in the Piegolette Operation. This NCO had previously taken part in the Commando raids of VAAGSO and St. Nazaire where he distinguished himself for his coolness and steadiness under fire. In the latter raid he was seriously wounded but continued his LMG (Light Machine Gun) fire from the deck of the ML (Motor Launch). Citation for Military Medal Bar On 17 Apr 45 L/Sgt Peachey was acting Section Sgt in a Troop ordered to attack the bridges across the River Reno and neighbouring canals West of Argenta. Owing to an earlier casualty he had no section officer. Peachey lead the assault section to the attack on the bridge himself and was then ordered to proceed forward to attack positions beyond the bridge. At this stage, the enemy reinforced his position and counter-attacked strongly. His Troop Commander was wounded and more than half his section had become casualties when the German counter-attack carried the enemy onto our forward positions in this sector. Peachey with superb coolness and disregard for himself rallied the remnants of his section and led an attack with bayonets and grenades on the advancing enemy with such ferocity and determination that the enemy were driven back, he personally killing or wounding at least 3 Germans. During this assault, Peachey was badly wounded in the chest, but he continued from a prone position to encourage his men and engage the enemy. Peachey’s bravery and high standard of leadership materially contributed to the smashing of the enemy counter-attack and the securing of our defensive position.

Salerno Landings, 1943 (World War Two, Italy 1943-1945), GRAPESHOT, Operation, 1945 (World War Two, Italy 1943-1945), Argenta Gap, Battle of the, 1945 (World War Two, Italy 1943-1945)