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Auction: 23002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 67

A campaign group of seven awarded to Major E. F. W. Peberdy, Petroleum Laboratory, Royal Army Service Corps, late Palestine Police, who earned a scarce 4-clasp General Service Medal

Peberdy was called as a witness in the trial of SS-Standartenfuhrer Kurt Meyer, 12th S.S. Panzer Division Hitlerjugend, having been instructed by the Court to photograph bodies taken from graves at Le Mesnil Patry and Authie

General Service 1918-62, 4 clasps, Palestine, S. E. Asia 1945-46, Canal Zone, Cyprus (1092 B. Constable. E. F. W. Peberdy Pal. Police); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Burma Star; France & Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, very fine (7)

Ernest Frederick William Peberdy was born 3 January 1906 at Leicester, the son of George Fredrick and Ellen Eliza Peberdy. Young Peberdy was educated at Lord Scudamores School, Hereford 1912-16 and Kibworth Grammar School, 1916-23. He was employed initially as an apprentice engineer at Rollin & Co. from 1923-29 before striking out on his own as an engineer from 1929-32. Later being employed by the Socony Vacuum Oil Company in Palestine from 1932-39, enlisting in the Palestine Police on 16 April 1932.

Receiving an Emergency Commission as a 2nd Lieutenant on 20 December 1939, being promoted Lieutenant in 1941, Captain in 1942 and Major in 1944. His postings during the Second World War include M.E.F. Movement Control from December 1939-August 1942, Staff appointments at HQ 18 Area (mainly POL Staff duties) from August 1942-March 1944 and POL Staff duties HQ 12 Line of Communication until December 1944. He was Officer Commanding 132 Petrol Company Light from December 1944-July 1945.

Peberdy was called as a witness in the Canadian War Crimes Commission led by Lieutenant-Colonel Bruce Macdonald during the trial of SS-Standartenfuhrer Kurt Meyer for the offences committed by him in The Ardenne Abbey massacre.

The Ardenne Abbey massacre occurred during the Battle of Normandy at the Premonstratensian monastery in Saint-Germain-la-Blanche-Herbe, near Caen, France. In June 1944, 20 Canadian soldiers were massacred in a garden at the abbey by members of the 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend over the course of several days and weeks. This was part of the Normandy Massacres, a series of scattered killings during which up to 156 Canadian Prisoners of War were murdered by soldiers of the 12th SS Panzer Division during the Battle of Normandy.

He served in Java from December 1945-March 1946 on HQ 451 Sub Area. 5th Indian Division as a Major.

Later leaving the Army in April 1960, he died at Ardingly, West Sussex on 5 September 1982; sold together with copies of his application for appointment to a commission, service papers, London Gazette entries, copy postings and documents confirming his medal entitlement including the Canal Zone clasp and his witness statement.

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Sold for
£800

Starting price
£480