Norman Peter George O'Neal
Norman Peter George O'Neal was born on 23 April 1915, in Forres 20 miles northeast of Inverness, where his parents, Pat and Dot were living at the time. He was always known as Peter.
The first two years of his life were intricately described and captured by his Father, Pat, in a booklet called "The progress of the inimitable Peter".
The progress of the inimitable Peter
Peter, drawn by his Father Lionel (Pat) O’Neal
During the first years of Peter’s life, whilst Pat and Dot were living so far away from their family, in Forres, Pat sent regular updates to his parents, along with sketches. Pat's Father Bob, transcribed these into a journal of Peter’s childhood. This is an almost daily update on Peter’s progress, and is interspersed with Pat’s drawings of his son Peter.
It is a long, loving and joyful reflection on the early days of a child who was clearly totally adored.
Education
Peter went to Christ’s Hospital school in Horsham from 1925 -1933. Founded in 1552 in London, and moving in 1902 to its current location outside leafy Horsham, this school has an incredible history. It was founded as a place to house and educate London’s poor children. Today, the school still offers subsidised and free boarding education, although now it also sits alongside full fee paying pupils. Peter’s younger brother, Ronnie, also went to this school (though I understand he was very unhappy there).
Peter (right) and Ronnie in their "Housie" uniform
The uniform you see Peter and his brother Ronnie wearing here, is still the same today, and the one I wore throughout my school life from the age of 12 to 18!
Picture from: https://www.christs-hospital.org.uk/school-life/ch-band/
Further information about the history of this school can be found by clicking on this picture
Military service
On leaving Christ’s Hospital, Peter entered Royal Military College in September 1933. He then received his first commission on 31 January 1935 as 2nd Lieutenant on an unattached list to the Indian Army. He finally joined his Indian unit (2nd battalion, 20th Burma Rifles) on 10 March 1936. He was promoted to Lieutenant in April 1937. It is shortly after this, in June 1937, that Peter was finally transferred to the 2nd battalion, 1st King George V own Gurkha rifles.
Norman Peter George O'Neal
The service record provides some insight into his time - what happened when, but nothing further. The annual reports provide some further insight however - the word ‘average’ is used on more than one occasion, across several early annual reports!
Peter was posted to Waziristan on the Northwest frontier between 1938-1939. In 1939-40 he was performing intelligence duties on the Afghanistan border. During this time he was mentioned in despatches. Unfortunately time has lost the reason behind this.
August 1938 Waziristan military camp on NorthWest Frontier.
He was promoted to acting captain in July 1941, and it is at this rank that he entered perhaps the darkest period of his military service. After 2 months of campaigning war against the Japanese, he along with so many others was taken prisoner by the Japanese, who overran the island of Singapore.
So began three gruelling years as a Far East Prisoner of War.
