George Peter Walls GLM DCD (1927 - 2010)

Born 1927 in Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia

Died 20 Jul 2010 at about age 83 in George, Western Cape, South Africa

Profile manager: Andrew Field [send private message]

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Biography

Birth & Upbringing: George, or Peter as he was better known, was born in 1927. He was the son of George Walls and Philomena.
Family: He married Eunice and together they raised three daughters, Patricia, Marion, and Valerie, and a son, George.
Migrations: He travelled to England to join the British Army.
Education: Peter was educated at Plumtree School.
Military Service: Peter Joined the British Army in the 1940s and studied and trained at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He was commissioned in the British Army on 16 March 1946 and served with the Black Watch. ^[1] Unhappy with a pending transfer to another regiment, Walls resigned his commission and returned to Rhodesia. He joined the Rhodesian Army, serving as a non-commissioned soldier in the ranks, first with the the Southern Rhodesian Staff Corps, and then as an officer in the Northern Rhodesian Regiment. In 1951 Walls was appointed second in command of a reconnaissance unit, called the Southern Rhodesia Far East Volunteer Unit, despatched to operate in Malaya, this being the founding unit which formed 'C' Squadron, The Special Air Service. Peter was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1964 and assumed command of the Rhodesian Light Infantry, a newly formed commando styled unit shortly after the break up of the Federation. Southern Rhodesia declared its Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) in November 1965, shortly after which Walls was appointed to the rank of Brigadier and assumed command of No 2 Brigade, Rhodesian Army. He was appointed Chief of Staff with the rank of Major-General in 1969. Peter was soon thereafter appointed to the post of Commander in Chief of the Rhodesian Army with the rank Lieutenant General. ^[2]
Honours and Awards: Peter Walls was appointed a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE - Military Division) in 1953.^[3] He was became an Officer of the Legion of Merit in July 1971. ^[4] In October 1976, General Walls was awarded the Defence Cross for Distinguished Service (DCD) ^[5] General Walls was the only military recipient of the award Grand Officer of the Legion of Merit (GLM) bestowed upon him November 1977.^[6]
Known Residences: Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia; Plettenburg Bay, South Africa
Demise: Peter Walls passed away on 20 July 2010 at George.
Burial: He was buried after a funeral service at St Thomas Anglican Church, Randburg, South Africa. ^[7][8]

Sources

FRIEDMAN, Herbert. "Rhodesia Psyop 1965-1980." Psywarrior.com. Published 28th of November 2006. Accessed 20th of November 2018. URL:[www.psywarrior.com/RhodesiaPSYOP.html].

COWELL, Alan. Peter Walls, General in Zimbabwe, Dies at 83(2010), NYTimes, visited 20th of November 2018, URL:[1]

1. ↑ The London Gazette Supplements citing page 2038 26 April 1944
2. ↑ Wikipedia entry on Peter Walls
3. ↑ The London Gazette Supplements citing 39839 page 2405 28 April 1953
4. ↑ Saffery, D "Rhodesia Medal Roll" Honours and Decoration of the Rhodesian Conflict 1970-1981 citing page 46 ISBN: 978-0-9553936-0-0
5. ↑ Ibid.' Saffery, D "Rhodesia Medal Roll"
6. ↑ Ibid.' Saffery, D "Rhodesia Medal Roll"
7. ↑ Obituary 'Daily Telegraph Newspapers' dated 27 July 201
8. ↑ Obituary 'The Guardian Newspapers' dated 28 July 201

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