Sweeney Peter King Pte 4267468

Personnel Entry

Peter King Sweeney (Bugler?)

Name Sweeney Peter King
Army number 4267468
Rank Fusilier.
Decorations Service Medals for Second World War (War Medal, Defence Medal and 1939/45 Star), together with the Africa Star with 8th Army Clasp - awarded 8/3/1944 (some records show 23/9/1944 as the date of the award).
Date of birth 8th July 1912 at Coatbridge in Scotland.
Age 62 at the time of his death.
Unit Enlisted in the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers at Middlesbrough on 19/3/1930 at the age of 18 years and attested the same day. Medical class A1. Joined as a Regular soldier for 7 years with 5 years on the Reserve. After basic training at the Depot he was posted to 1st Battalion RNF. Served Jamaica 16/9/1931 - 9/2/1934. Served Egypt 10/2/1934 - 5/10/1937. Transferred to Section B of the Army Reserve under King's Regulations para 38(i) 4/1/1938. Posted to Dover for training 1 - 12 May 1939. Called out for Army Service 15/6/1939 and posted to the 2nd Battalion RNF 17/6/1939. Called to the Colours and mobilised 1/9/1939. Joined the Depot at Folkestone 6/9/1939. Posted to the 7th Battalion RNF. Served with the B.E.F. in France from 31/3/1940. Posted to the HQ of 3rd Corps 31/3/1940. Returned from France 1/6/1940. Posted to 2nd Battalion RNF from Reception Camp 7/6/1940. Transferred to The Durham Light Infantry 18/7/1940, Posted to the 11th Battalion. Served Iceland. Disembarked Iceland 25/10/1940 and, apart from a spell of leave in the UK from 14/5/1941, returned to the UK with the 11th Battalion at the end of 1941. Posted to 70th Infantry Brigade HQ 9/3/1942. Transferred to the Royal Engineers in the rank of Sapper 2/4/1942, Posted No. 2 Training Battalion, Depot Company. Posted to Company B in the Training Battalion 12/4/1942. Documents to R.E. Records Brighton 1/6/1942. Completed R.E. Recruit Training 4/6/1942. Posted to Depot Company 16/6/1942. Posted to No. 25 Base Depot Company 7/7/1942. Posted to 3 (Lines of Communication) DBRE for overseas draft serial RGKYH. Posted 2 FDBD for serial RGKYH 21/7/1942. Draft RGKYH embarked for the Middle East 26/7/1942. Disembarked Egypt and posted to X (IV) List 21/9/1942. X (II) List 24/10/1942 (Hospitalised). X (IV) List 16/11/1942 (Discharged from Hospital). Posted to the 658 General Construction Company Royal Engineers 26/12/1942 - joined 2/1/1943. Posted to X (II) List 17/8/1943 (Hospitalised). Discharged from Hospital and posted to 658 Artisan Works Company Royal Engineers 8/9/1943. Transferred to British North Africa Force 11/10/1943 and Struck off Strength of the Middle East Force. To X (II) List 25/1/1944. Posted back to 658 Artisan Works Company Royal Engineers 13/2/1944. To X (II) List (NBC) 20/8/1945 (Hospitalised) Discharged from No. 45 General Hospital 12/9/1945. Regarded as non-effective from 16/10/1945. Released to Class Z Reserve 4/2/1946. Disposal handled by No. 6 Military Dispersal Unit, Taunton
Company/Battery Not known, other than as shown above.
Platoon or other sub-unit Not known.
Task or role Gained qualifications as a Plumber and Pipe Fitter in March 1945 as well as 3rd and 2nd Class Education Certificates.
Joined Brigade 18/7/1940.
Promotions Promoted Lance Corporal but requested a return to the ranks subsequently. Promoted Corporal 30/5/1941 while with 11th DLI.
Wounded Not as far as is known, though he had several spells in hospital.
Prisoner of War Not as far as is known.
Died/Killed in action Death registered July 1974 while at Tiverton, Bath. Probate granted 28/10/1974 at the Bristol office.
Home address Religion on enlistment - Roman Catholic. Industry group on enlistment ZH - occupation code 176.2 - Labourer. Father was Next of Kin on enlistment - living at 34, Sarah Street, West Hartlepool. Peter's address 24, Wedmore Park, Bath, Somerset. Married Dorothy Reeves (1919 - 2010) on 2/2/1940. Final home address 12, Poolemead Road, Tiverton, Bath, Somerset.
Source table 11DLI