Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Frederick Walter

Lieutenant Colonel Peter Frederick Walter was born on January 26 1928 to Frederick and Hilda Walter and was one of four siblings who grew up on a farm near Retford in Nottinghamshire. He was educated at King Edward VI Grammar School, but was expelled after he quarrelled with the headmaster. 

Walter joined the Army in December 1944, two months before he turned 16, presumably by lying about his age. He claimed to be a farm worker and joined the Sherwood Foresters. The young soldier would serve in Palestine immediately after the war in the years 1945-48. Then, in 1950, he was transferred to the Malayan Scouts commanded by "Mad Mike" Calvert, a unit that was known for its expertise in guerrilla warfare but which had a reputation for poor discipline. Its CO Calvert was eventually court-martialled and dismissed for "gross indecency with male persons" while he served with the BAOR, which involved four young men between the ages of 17 and 20. On appeal it later emerged these men may have robbed Calvert, casting doubt on the veracity of their claims. Nevertheless, the Malayan Scouts survived and formally became 22 SAS in 1952. By 1950, moreover, Walter had reached the rank of WO2 and had the additional responsibility of being a Squadron Sergeant Major, a role he retained when the Scouts changed names. At this time he was also second in command of 22 SAS. It was during these years that he earned the nickname 'the Rat'.  

On December 5, 1953, having completed his training as a cadet, Walter advanced straight to the rank of Lieutenant and rejoined the Sherwood Foresters. This was a remarkable rate of progress for a man who had joined the army nine years prior without any educational qualifications. He subsequently transferred to the Royal Lincolnshire Regiment on March 12, 1955. He was promoted again to Captain on September 30 of that year. 

Walter was deployed regularly back to Malaya and was awarded a mention in despatches on 30 October, 1956. Then the following year he won his first Military Cross on August 27 whilst fighting 'Communist Terrorists' (CTs). It reads as follows:

"For repeated courage and determination in leading his men in the assault against heavy fire from terrorists in prepared ambush positions. He inspired his men to achieve a moral ascendancy over a numerically superior enemy". 

Not mentioned above is the fact that Walter had narrowly survived having a full Sten magazine fired at him from close range, and had killed one of the assailants himself. It was for such acts of bravery that he was eventually awarded an MBE on April 28, 1959. The following year, Walter's regiment and the Northamptonshire Regiment were merged to become the 2nd East Anglian Regiment. It was in the 2nd EA on September 30, 1962 that Walter became a Major. But on December 21 he transferred to 3 PARA, retaining his rank. This was the unit with which he spent the rest of his career and earned his reputation. Shortly afterwards in April 1963 he married his first wife, Elizabeth Hall, with whom he had two sons. She was the daughter of a Royal Navy and Royal Indian Navy Officer. But before they left on their honeymoon, Walter chanced rides with the RAF all the way to Borneo. The reason: neighbouring Malaysia had come under attack from Indonesia. Walter was to accompany a patrol of Gurkhas under Lt Hugh Wallace to confront the invading force. When Wallace was killed, it was Walter who led the men who recovered his body. But he had missed his honeymoon. Elizabeth later said, "he really was only ever married to the Army". They later separated and he remarried Annabel Chase in 2003. 

Walter fought with 3 PARA when they were deployed to Radfan in 1964 and launched an assault on a hill nicknamed 'Cap Badge' as the leader of B Company. His leadership led to him receiving a bar to his MC:

"Major Walter's company was given the difficult task of a long night march to the rear of a vital feature known as Cap Badge. At first light on 5th May 1964, the company was still on the ground short of the objective, but Major Walter pressed on vigorously. Approaching the foot of the feature the company encountered and were engaged by a group of at least sixty dissidents in strong positions -including fortified houses. Under Major Walter's leadership the company immediately attacked and defeated the dissidents, driving them out of their positions, killing at least twelve and wounding more. Major Walter personally took part in an assault on the main fortified house. Though the enemy had been defeated some of them got into sniping positions in the hills above, inflicting casualties on the company. Major Walter quickly reorganised the company in the nearby village and fortified houses and engaged and silenced the snipers. To avoid -further casualties he was ordered to keep the company in the village until relieved from the high ground above. Until relieved he continued to control the fire of his company and to direct strike aircraft to neutralise the enemy. Major Walter showed great resolution, leadership and dash in pressing on towards his objective and in attacking and defeating the enemy in their strong positions. Throughout the action he remained calm, and his general conduct led to an important victory over this group of dissidents."

Walter was made a Lieutenant Colonel on June 30, 1969. From 1972 to 1974, he was commander of the depot of the Parachute Regiment where he trained new recruits. Subsequent to this he worked in Lisburn, Northern Ireland. On April 26, 1977, in recognition of his service there, he was awarded a second MiD. Prior to retirement, he helped establish the Nato International Long-Range Reconnaissance Patrol School (ILRRP) in Germany. He was the Commander of the International Wing (I Wing), which was the direct predecessor of what is now the International Special Training Center (ISTC). This unit helped train soldiers to gather intelligence behind enemy lines. 

Walter retired from the regular army on 7 May, 1981, joining the Honourable Artillery Company (TA). The following year, he reverted to the rank of Major on April 15, at his own request. Finally, on October 6 1991, he left his military career at the age of 63 and was restored to the honorary rank of Lt. Col. He was reluctant to retire and had served without rest for 47 years. He died of prostate cancer on June 28, 2019, at the age of 91.