Born in India in 1893, Edgar Peacock missed the First World War due to his employment in Burma’s Jungles. The talk will focus on the work of SOE’s India Mission in the contested No Man’s Land of the Kabaw Valley and beyond, an area that Edgar Peacock knew well, having been a Forestry Manager in the interwar period.
In 1940, aged 46, he lied about his age and enlisted as a Private, ending the war as a highly decorated special forces Lieutenant Colonel, who had conceived, planned and led the most successful guerrilla operation of the Second World War. Approximately 130 British officers and NCOs parachuted in, raised about 12,000 indigenous guerrillas and prevented the Japanese from halting General Slim's advance on Rangoon. Over eight months of intense, continuous, combat in enemy territory, Operation Character accounted for 11,874 Japanese casualties for the loss of 22 British troops. For a period they outperformed the entire British 14th Army!
Monsoon rains, scarce supplies, dense mountainous jungle, tigers, snakes, leeches and a determined enemy, all combined to make this an operation like no other. Dr Richard Duckett was given exclusive access to private family files and produced an extraordinary biography of an exceptional man, exploring Edgar’s truly fascinating life.
The recording is now available to view below:
Speakers:
Dr Robert Lyman MBE - Military Historian, Author and Trustee of KET Born in New Zealand in January 1963 and educated in Australia, Robert Lyman was, for twenty years, an officer in the British Army. Educated at Scotch College, Melbourne he was commissioned into the Light Infantry from the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, in April 1982. In addition to a business career he is an author and military historian, publishing books in particular on the war in the Far East. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. Robert is married to Hannah, has two sons, and lives in Berkshire. For information about Robert's publications please visit his website: robertlyman.com
Dr Richard Duckett is an historian, author and teacher. He has taught History and Politics for twenty years in both the state and independent sector. Richard read History at the University of Essex before moving on to the University of Reading to complete a Masters degree. After starting his teaching career, Richard studied for a doctorate on a part time basis with the Open University while continuing to teach full time. Since finishing his PhD, Richard continues to research and write, with his fourth book Jungle Warrior recently published. Richard also maintains a website www.soeinburma.com where he publishes original archival research.
Duncan Gilmour: Duncan was born in Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) in 1960, to Edgar Peacock’s youngest daughter, Wendy. Aged five, the family moved to England and after a spell in Sussex, settled in Oxford. After school, Duncan worked for ten years in the entertainment industry, both in music and theatre before embarking on a career as a commercial pilot, culminating in a 24 year career with British Airways. Duncan retired as a senior Airbus A380 captain in 2020. During that time, Duncan was a trustee of the charity Help For Forgotten Allies which supported old soldiers from Burma, many of whom had fought in SOE operations such as the one his grandfather had commanded.
In 2022, Duncan invited Richard Duckett to delve into his extensive family archives and to write the official biography of his grandfather. The result is Jungle Warrior, published by Chiselbury Publishing.
Sylvia May - Managing Trustee of The Kohima Educational Trust Sylvia May was born in New Jersey, USA in 1957. Her parents moved to England in 1963. Educated at High Wycombe School for Girls, she decided to pursue a career in the world of books. Sylvia worked for HarperCollins for 37 years, the last eleven of which she headed up their UK-based International Sales team. Sylvia May is the daughter of the late Gordon Graham, Founder and President of the Kohima Educational Trust. She is proud that her father has inspired many people to share his vision to commemorate those who fought and died in Kohima, and the wonderful Naga people who have done so much for the British in the past. She first visited India in 1994 with her husband Robert, and has returned on numerous occasions, staying in Kohima several times. In 2000, they followed the WWII route of the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, her father’s regiment. The regiment’s first main engagement in this theatre of war was at Zubza shortly before the Battle of Kohima.
