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Auction: 19002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 190

Three: Major P. S. Stickley, Royal Marines, a crack shot and skilled long range desert operator who saw active service across two theatres with 40 and 42 Commando, and who latterly appears to have operated with Special Boat Service

Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Naval General Service 1915-62, 2 clasps, Malaya, Cyprus (Lieut. P. S. Stickley. R.M.), unofficial rivets, mounted court-style as worn, good very fine (3)

Peter Stanley Stickley was born on 8 March 1925 at Paris. Educated at Bournemouth School, he was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Marines on 1 September 1943 having served at Collingwood as an Ordinary Seaman from 1 April 1942. Promoted Lieutenant on 20 March 1945, he underwent specialist training at RM TGRP Wales, before going to Newfoundland in September. Returned to Plymouth in 1949, he served with 42 Commando in Malaya (Medal & clasp), being promoted Captain in September 1953.

He was next sent for further training at the Amphibious School - a centre renowned for educating Commandos in the 'dark arts' of their field - in 1955. Indeed, his next posting in 1956 was to Royal Prince, the B.O.A.R. site at Krefeld. The site was open until 1958 and was responsible for the passage of all waterborne traffic along the River Rhine between the Dutch border and the French Zone south of Bonn. Equipped with fast patrol boats and a number of Landing Craft, it was initially known as the Royal Marines Demolition Unit, subsequently Special Boat Service the unit’s task was the contingency planning for the close protection - and demolition if necessary - of the key strategic bridges over the River Rhine in the event of any attack by Soviet Forces based in East Germany.

Stickley was posted for further active service in Cyprus (clasp) in 1958 with 40 Commando. In 1959 he commanded Exercise 'Runaground', which took place in Libya, designed '...purely to practise long range desert penetration and desert navigation.' Quarter-Master-Sergeant I. West takes up the story:

'The first night we camped about 55 miles from Giarabub after completing 103 miles. The same night Sgt. Stevenson, one of our troop shottists, killed a desert fox at a range of 60 yards, aiming at the eyes. The RAF (Desert Rescue Team) were most impressed! We made an early start and arrived at Giarabub at 1130hrs...The next day we proceeded south towards the Sand Sea on the way passing through a petrified forest. It consisted of a vast plain covered in pieces of petrified wood ranging in size from an inch to half trees and massive roots.

On leaving the forest we ran into 'fesh fesh' which is a layer of balsitic shale overlaying limestone dust. This proved too much for our heavily laden three ton vehicles and we were forced to leave them and push on the last few miles to the Sand Sea in Landrovers. The Sand Sea is best described as a Hollywood desert, great massive sand dunes, some about 300 feet high, stretching as far as the eye can see.

Our journey back was uneventful except for our remarkable habit of finding ourselves in the middle of minefields, and the time our doctor jumped into a pit at El Gubi and found it occupied by a viper.'

The same year Stickley Captained the 40 Commando team to the Duke of Edinburgh's trophy, one of a number of victories for a crack shot. Transferred to 45 Commando in 1962, Stickley retired in 1962. He retired to Torpoint, Cornwall and died at Darriford Hospital, Plymouth on 8 August 1989; sold together with the original enclosure for the N.G.S., copied research and service records and ten rifle and shooting medals, National Rifle Association (3), silver, engraved 'The Royal Sussex Cup, 1974'; silver, engraved 'Inter-Services Long Range 1962'; bronze, 2 clasps, Daily Telegraph, Century; Royal Marines Rifle Association (6), Rifle XX, 1961; Jewels Tyro 1961; Winter Small Bore, Coach 1962; L.R.M., 1962; Pistol VIII, 1962; Tyro Pistol Capt. D. S. Stickley. R.M.; 40 Cdo. R.M. CO's Trophy, Rifle 'C' Winner; J.R.A. 1861-1961.

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Estimate
£600 to £800