MS 992
Reference code
MS 992
Title
Military papers of Peter Beaumont Earle
Level
Sub-fonds
Administrative / Biographical history
Peter Beaumont Earle (1917-1993) was a British Army officer and later company director. The son of Loftus Earle and Edythe Rickards, he was born at Windsor in 1917 and was educated at Eton College from 1929 to 1933. he saw early service in Palestine (1936–1939), followed by campaigns in North Africa and France during the Second World War (1940–1945). He was awarded the Military Cross while serving as Liaison Officer to Field Marshal Sir Bernard Montgomery in north-west Europe in 1945 and was subsequently promoted to Major.
In 1946 Earle worked as Controller G.A.D. in the British Zone of occupied Germany contributing to administrative and publicity work during the post-war reconstruction. He transferred to Queen Victoria’s Rifles in 1949 and became Adjutant of the regiment. Promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, he commanded Queen Victoria’s Rifles from 1953 to his retirement, and was also associated with the Royal Rhodesia Regiment during the 1950s.
He married Ursula Dorothy Ware in 1940. After retiring from the Army, he pursued a career as a company director. Earle lived at Stairs Hill House, Empshott, Hampshire, where he died in 1993.
In 1946 Earle worked as Controller G.A.D. in the British Zone of occupied Germany contributing to administrative and publicity work during the post-war reconstruction. He transferred to Queen Victoria’s Rifles in 1949 and became Adjutant of the regiment. Promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, he commanded Queen Victoria’s Rifles from 1953 to his retirement, and was also associated with the Royal Rhodesia Regiment during the 1950s.
He married Ursula Dorothy Ware in 1940. After retiring from the Army, he pursued a career as a company director. Earle lived at Stairs Hill House, Empshott, Hampshire, where he died in 1993.
Date
1936-1957
Extent & medium
3 files, 2 volumes and 1 map
Content description
Papers of Peter Beaumont Earle (1917-1993) relating to his military service in Palestine 1937; his associations with the 2nd King’s Royal Rifles, Queen Victoria’s Rifle, the Royal Rhodesia Regiment and his friendship with General Sir George Watkin Ebden Erskine (1899-1965) during the 1940s to 1960s
1. Palestine Police file of Peter Earle, containing reconnaissance notes, survey maps and village reports of area between Tel Aviv, Petah Tiqva and Qaliqilya, June-Aug 1937
2. Peter Earle’s annotated copy of A P Wavell: The Palestine Campaigns (1935), dated August 1936
3. A War Office map of the Near and Middle East (1940), with ?Peter Earle’s annotations
4. Three letters to Peter Earle from ‘Edward’ [General Sir George Erskine, Aide de camp to Queen Elizabeth II 1955-1965 and Colonel Commandant of the King’s Royal Rifle Corps 1956-1957], including a letter, explaining that Princess Marie Louise requested that her presentation copy of ‘A short History of the Royal Rhodesia Regiment’ should be given to Peter Earle, 1955 -1957
5. ‘A short History of the Royal Rhodesia Regiment’, presented to Her Highness Princess Marie Louise of Schleswig-Holstein on her visit to the regiment, signed by the Princess and later given by her to Peter Earle, 20 Mar 1955 [other ref] Ke.3.16.
6. Two photographs of General Sir George Erskine, c.1950
1. Palestine Police file of Peter Earle, containing reconnaissance notes, survey maps and village reports of area between Tel Aviv, Petah Tiqva and Qaliqilya, June-Aug 1937
2. Peter Earle’s annotated copy of A P Wavell: The Palestine Campaigns (1935), dated August 1936
3. A War Office map of the Near and Middle East (1940), with ?Peter Earle’s annotations
4. Three letters to Peter Earle from ‘Edward’ [General Sir George Erskine, Aide de camp to Queen Elizabeth II 1955-1965 and Colonel Commandant of the King’s Royal Rifle Corps 1956-1957], including a letter, explaining that Princess Marie Louise requested that her presentation copy of ‘A short History of the Royal Rhodesia Regiment’ should be given to Peter Earle, 1955 -1957
5. ‘A short History of the Royal Rhodesia Regiment’, presented to Her Highness Princess Marie Louise of Schleswig-Holstein on her visit to the regiment, signed by the Princess and later given by her to Peter Earle, 20 Mar 1955 [other ref] Ke.3.16.
6. Two photographs of General Sir George Erskine, c.1950
Provenance
In possession of Peter Beaumont Earle and Judith Earle before transfer to Eton College Archives and then transferred to Eton College Library.
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Number 117 of 121 at this Level
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