Honours and Awards

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DSO

PETERS, Frederick Thornton, Lieutenant, RN

Issued: 3-Mar-1915, London Gazette

Distinguished Service Cross

PETERS, Frederick Thornton, Lieutenant, RN

Issued: 8-Mar-1918, London Gazette

Bar to the Distinguished Service Cross

PETERS, Frederick Thornton, Captain, RN

Issued: 18-May-1943, London Gazette

"While in command of the ship carrying Landing Forces of the United States Army into the harbour of Oran, Morocco, in the early morning of 8 November 1942, Captain Peters distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism against an armed enemy during the attack on that port. He remained on the bridge in command of his ship in spite of the fact that the protective armour thereon had been blown in by enemy shellfire and was thereby exposed personally to the withering cross-fire from shore defences. He accomplished the berthing of his ship, then went to the forward deck and assisted by one officer, secured the forward mooring lines. He then, with utter disregard of his own personal safety went to the quarter-deck and assisted in securing the aft mooring lines so that the troops on board could disembark. At that time, the engine room was in flames and very shortly thereafter exploded and the ship turned on its side and sank."

Note: 1. CANADIAN in the RN. 2. Birthplace Charlottetown, PEI

Victoria Cross

PETERS, Frederick Thornton, Captain, RN

Issued: 18-May-1943, London Gazette

"Captain Peters was in the 'suicide charge' by two little cutters at Oran. "Walney' and 'Hartland' were two ex-American coast guard cutters which were lost in a gallant attempt to force the boom defences in the harbour of Oran during the landings on the North African coast. Captain Peters led his force through the boom in the face of point-blank fire from shore batteries, a destroyer and cruiser - a feat which was described as one of the great episodes of naval history. The Walney reached the jetty disabled and ablaze, and went down with her colours flying. Blinded in one eye, Captain Peters was the only survivor of the seventeen men on the bridge of the 'Walney'. He was taken prisoner but was later released when Oran was captured. On being liberated from gaol, he was carried through the streets where the citizens hailed him with flowers."

Note: 1. Victoria Cross awarded to a CANADIAN in the ROYAL NAVY in WW2. 2. Tragically, Captain Peters was killed in an air crash three days after he was freed from jail, on 13 November 1942, when in a Sunderland flying boat that crash-landed in Plymouth Sound in thick fog.