1916 was a very bad year for the Allies in World War I, but on St Patrick’s Day that year there was some good news from the Libyan desert. Before the streaks of sunshine rose in the East, the second Duke of Westminster led a convoy of 43 vehicles into the barren Sahara in search of a hundred Royal Navy Prisoners of War held by the Sanussi Army. The determined Duke began at a speed of 40 miles per hour, but by midday, his progress had slowed to 12 mph due to punctures and navigation halts. After 80 miles, of doubt and uncertainty, they eventually arrived at Bir Hakeim to find the emaciated prisoners and their fox-terrier pup, Paddy.
The Commander of the Western Frontier Force, Major General William Peyton, wrote a Victoria Cross citation for the Duke (and for Hugh Souter who had attacked an Ottoman machine gun force in February) but these were downgraded to DSOs in London. Peyton petitioned the King and Lord Kitchener on behalf of the two officers, but was told that the Army in France was very jealous of honours given elsewhere and the fact they were not regular officers did not help them. For his trouble, Peyton was subsequently sent to France as Field Marshal Haig’s Military Secretary!
Rupert Wieloch 