Peter King, in April of 1942, had a problem - he was a Drill Sergeant and weapons expert in the Royal Army Medical Corps and he had been refused a posting for more active service. His solution? Steal weapons and a boat, grab a mate, and invade occupied France, of course.
King's story has been told already, as a book and recent movie, and I cannot do better than his personal Wikipedia entry, which can be found here.
K FORCE AWARDS
CAPTAIN KING AND GUNNER RIXON
BRAVERY UNDER HEAVY FIRE
(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, March 17.
The citations to the awards of a D.S.O. to Captain Peter Frank King, M.C., and a D.C.M. to Gunner Derek Edwin Rixon, members of K Force in Korea, were announced to-day by Government House. Captain King comes from Otautau, Southland, and Gunner Rixon from Hastings.
Captain King was forward artillery observation officer and Gunner Rixon radio operator in support of C Company. 1st Battalion, the King’s Own Scottish Borderers, on November 4 last year when the company position came under heavy artillery and mortar fire. Shortly afterwards enemy infantry attacked along a ridge and approached the company area.
“Defensive fire, which Captain King called down from his regiment and adjusted on to the enemy force, succeeded in breaking up the attack,” say the citations. Gunner Rixon coolly and efficiently operated his radio, passing back fire orders and calls for defensive fire, which broke up the initial attack.
An hour later the enemy launched another attack, preceded by an intensive artillery and mortar barrage. Captain King again called up defensive fire, but shortly afterward the radio set was destroyed and line communications cut by shell fire. The enemy advanced and penetrated the company’s positions.
“With complete disregard for the intensive fire Captain King moved to the danger spot and there, armed with grenades and supported by light machine-gun parties he had collected, he endeavoured to restore the situation,” says his citation, “When the grenades and small arms ammunition were expended he went back to the headquarters area, together with Gunner Rixon, and rearmed. He then returned and engaged the enemy in close combat. This action was repeated several times under intense fire, during which Captan King was wounded three time.
“Two hours after the attack began he was ordered by the Company commander to withdraw. The gallantry, coolness under fire, and outstanding tenacity shown by this officer, even when wounded, in a valiant attempt to restore the position enabled the company position to be held for two hours."
Gunner Rixon without hesitation joined Captain King, and armed with grenades charged through heavy fire to engage the enemy at close quarters for an hour and a half. He continued hurling grenades and making trips back to company headquarters to carry up grenades and ammunition.
"In spite of being wounded in the head he made every endeavour to clear the company area of the enemy, and stopped only when ordered to withdraw," says the citation. “He then assisted in carrying his wounded officer to safety through heavy shell and mortar fire, being himself again wounded while doing so. Gunner Rixon’s devotion to duty, his gallantry, and his disregard of heavy and often intense shell and mortar fire were of the highest and were an inspiration to all the company.” -Press, 18/3/1952.
CAR ROLLS INTO LAKE
Driver Killed In S. Westland
(N.Z. Press Association) GREYMOUTH, December 12.
The body of a man whose utility vehicle plunged into Lake Wahapo, South Westland, at 8 a.m. today, was recovered about 4.30 p.m.
He was Peter Frank King, aged 46, a National Park ranger, married, with two children, of Franz Josef Glacier.
The body was recovered from the car in 50ft of water by a Greymouth skin-diver, Mr C. Dalziel. The officer-in-charge of the area, Constable S. D. F. Reid, of Whataroa, said Mr Dalziel recovered the body on his second dive, and was in the murky water on the last occasion for over five minutes before bringing the body to the surface. The vehicle was seen to go into the water of the deep lake by the driver of a New Zealand Railways truck, which was going north. According to Constable Reid, the truck was negotiating a slight bend beside the lake when the driver noticed the utility vehicle approaching.
Mr King braked hard, and the vehicle slewed over from the bank-side of the road in the direction of the lake. It rolled over the bank into the lake.
Mr King had a distinguished military career, beginning when he joined the Scots Guards at 16. At the outbreak of the Second World War he joined Lord Lovat’s commandos, and took part in the raid on Dieppe. He also took part in a two-man raid against installations in enemy occupied Norway. Coming to New Zealand in 1945, Mr King joined the New Zealand Army, and left with the advance party for Korea. From 1956 to 1959 he was a United Nations observer in Kashmir, and in 1960 he was appointed the first ranger for the newly-formed South Westland National Park. Mr King won the D.S.O. in Korea, and the Military Cross at Arnhem. He was awarded a bar to his D.S.O., which was presented by the Queen during her visit to New Zealand in 1953-54. Mr King is survived by his wife and two infant children. -Press, 13/12/1962.
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