Walter Peeler
Lance-Corporal, 3rd Pioneer Battalion. Australian Imperial Force
- Register No.
- 980 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lance-Corporal (register: Lance Corporal) all Lance-Corporals →
- Unit
- 3rd Pioneer Battalion. Australian Imperial Force (register: 3rd Battalion, AIF) all AIF VCs →
- Date of action
- 4 October 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- the 26th November, 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Born
- 9th August 1887 at Castlemaine, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Died
- the 23rd May, 1968 at Caulfield, Victoria, Australia
- Memorial / grave
- at Brighton Cemetery, Melbourne, and on the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia
Digest of citation
During the first wave of the attack at Ypres, Belgium, on the 20th September, 1917, Lance-Corporal Peeler encountered an enemy sniping party, firing on the advancing troops from a shell hole. He immediately rushed the position, accounting for nine of the enemy, clearing the way for the advance. On two further occasions, he carried out similar acts of valour, each time accounting for a number of the enemy. He was directed, during operations, to a position where an enemy machine-gun was firing at our troops. Lance-Corporal Peeler located the gun and killed its operator, the remainder of the enemy party taking refuge in a dug-out close by. They were dislodged from this position by a bomb, causing 10 of them to run out, where Lance-Corporal Peeler disposed of them. He accounted for more than 30 of the enemy setting a fine example. His action ensuring the success of the attack against a determined enemy
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
PEELER, Walter. (reg No. 980).
Lance-Corporal. 3rd Pioneer Battalion. Australian Imperial Force.
London Gazetted on the 26th November, 1917.
Born on 9th August 1887 at Castlemaine, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Died on the 23rd May, 1968 at Caulfield, Victoria, Australia.
Memorial on grave at Brighton Cemetery, Melbourne, and on the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia.
Digest of Citation reads: During the first wave of the attack at Ypres, Belgium, on the 20th September, 1917, Lance-Corporal Peeler encountered an enemy sniping party, firing on the advancing troops from a shell hole. He immediately rushed the position, accounting for nine of the enemy, clearing the way for the advance. On two further occasions, he carried out similar acts of valour, each time accounting for a number of the enemy. He was directed, during operations, to a position where an enemy machine-gun was firing at our troops. Lance-Corporal Peeler located the gun and killed its operator, the remainder of the enemy party taking refuge in a dug-out close by. They were dislodged from this position by a bomb, causing 10 of them to run out, where Lance-Corporal Peeler disposed of them. He accounted for more than 30 of the enemy setting a fine example. His action ensuring the success of the attack against a determined enemy.
Additional information:. Army No. 114 , Sergeant Peeler was also awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM). He also served in the Second World War (WWII)
Additional information
Army No. 114 , Sergeant Peeler was also awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM). He also served in the Second World War (WWII)
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Brighton Cemetery, Melbourne, and on the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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