KENWARD, Peter John

Rank: 
Lieutenant
Unit / Base: 
3 Commando
Regiment/Corps: 
Royal Artillery
Service: 
Army
Number: 
100942
Died : 
Wednesday, August 19, 1942
Killed in action or died of wounds
Local Roll of Honour: 
Peter John Kenward
Lieutenant Peter Kenward, B.A., died during operations at Dieppe, France [1][1a].
  • 2 September 1939 Gunner Peter John Kenward, late Cadet Sgt. Bradfield College contingent June Div., OTC, commissioned Second Lieutenant [2].
  • 17 August 1942 after volunteering he was attached to No.3 Commando [3].
  • 18 August 1942 embarked with No.3 Commando for Dieppe [3].
  • 19 August 1942 killed in his landing craft as they approached the beach [3]
  • Brigadier Durnford-Slater described him as "A fine young officer."[3].
Extract from the Evening Despatch newspaper
"Lieut. Peter J. Kenward, B.A., son of Mr. H. L. Kenward, a local director of the Dunlop Rubber Company, who lives at 36, Lady Byron Lane, Knowle, has been reported killed in action in the raid on Dieppe.
Enlisting in the ranks the day war was declared, Lieutenant Kenward was commissioned in November 1939 [see notes below]. He was then 21 years of age and had just taken his B.A. at Oxford. He was a schoolboy international athlete, had acquired a wide reputation in University sports circles, and was secretary of the Hertford College athletic team and secretary of the Achilles Club, the organisation representative of athletes of both Oxford and Cambridge.
Lieut. Kenward was also a talented composer of music. Several of his compositions had been performed. He is to be accorded a full military funeral at Brighton tomorrow."[4].
 
Sources
[1] CWGC.
[1a] Casualty List / National Archives file WO417/3.
[2] London Gazette 6th October 1939; LG 34703, page 6780.
[3] Commando-Memoirs of a Fighting Commando in WW2 by Brig John Durnford-Slater.
[4] Evening Despatch - Monday 24 August 1942, source British Newspaper Archive.
[Image] © Hertford College Archives, Oxford.
[Image credit] With the permission of the Principal, Fellows and Scholars of Hertford College in the University of Oxford.
 
Notes
The London Gazette date of his commission @ [2] shows September 1939.
 
Primary Roll of Honour: 

Ask Questions / Add Information / Add Photos

Use the Archive Forum for research enquiries, or to add information or photos. [register now]
Read some frequently asked questions here [FAQ's].
Contact the Archive via the [contact form].
 
All content is researched and administered by the Commando Veterans Archive.