War hero’s medals on display at Wardroom

RAdm Gilles Couturier, Commander of Maritime Forces Pacific/Joint Task Force (Pacific), presented replica medals of Capt Frederick Peters to the Esquimalt Wardroom. Attending the presentation at the wardroom were: Commander Brigitte Boutin, President of the Wardroom; CPO1 Mike Feltham, Formation Chief Petty Officer; RAdm Couturier; Capt(N) Steve Waddell, Base Commander; and CPO1 Gino Spinelli, Base Chief. Photo by LS Ogle Henry, MARPAC Imaging Services

Rachel Lallouz , Staff Writer ~
 
One of the most impressive rack of medals from a long ago Canadian naval hero is on display at the Esquimalt Wardroom.

Thirteen medals, replicas of the originals, are encased in a shadow box along with a photo and biography of Captain Frederick Thornton Peters, who fought in two world wars before perishing in a plane crash just days after his release in 1942.

Touted as Canada’s most decorated naval hero, Peters was revered June 3 at a small gathering in the Wardroom.

Rear-Admiral Gilles Couturier presented the memento to Wardroom President, Commander Brigitte Boutin and Base Commander, Captain (Navy) Steve Waddell.

Among the collection of medals is the Victoria Cross, the Distinguished Service Cross with Bar, the 1914 Star, the Victory Medal, the 1939-1945 Star, the Atlantic Star, the Africa Star, the Defense Medal, the War Medal, the Italian Messina Earthquake Medal, and the U.S. Distinguished Service Cross.

“Capt Peters is Canada’s most decorated naval hero, and has the rare distinction of receiving multiple awards for valour in each of the world wars,” said RAdm Couturier in his address. “It is amazing that we have the honour of having these medals here.”

The medals were given to RAdm Couturier during a Battle of the Atlantic Mess Dinner at HMCS Discovery in April, by Dr. John Blatherwick – an Honorary Colonel of 12 Vancouver Field Ambulance who served in the military for 39 years.

Captain Frederick Thornton Peters

Captain Frederick Thornton Peters

During the First World War, a young Peters was decorated with the Distinguished Service Order in January 1915, the first ever given to a Canadian citizen. He received the Order for his actions saving the lives of two sailors on board the destroyer HMS Meteor, when a shell from German cruiser Blucher hit the ship’s engine room.

Later on during the war, in 1918, he received the Distinguished Service Cross for his ingenuity in his attacks on enemy submarines.

When the Second World War broke out in 1939, Peters commanded a flotilla of anti-sub trawlers that sank two enemy submarines, earning a bar to his Distinguished Service Cross in 1940.

By 1942 he was given charge of the Allied invasion of North Africa – an attack by mostly American forces using Coast Guard ships to secure Oran Harbour, located in the French colony of Algeria. The Allied invasion ended up suffering from 90 per cent casualties, and was surrounded by fire from all directions, yet Peters was able to direct his ship, HMS Walney, to its target berth. Despite his success at reaching land, he and fellow survivors were taken as prisoners. Two days later they were freed by American troops.

On his journey back to England a few days later, the Sunderland flying boat transporting him back from Gibraltar crashed into Plymouth Sound after encountering strong headwinds and thick fog. Peters did not survive.

For his actions in North Africa, the captain was posthumously given both the Victoria Cross and the U.S. Distinguished Service Cross, one of the greatest honours the American military has bestowed on a foreigner.

With files from Sam McBride, CFB Esquimalt’s Naval and Military Museum.